US2605563A - Self-contained grab bucket unit for hoist lines - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 5" 1952 v. R. BROWNING 2,605,563

SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FOR HOIST LINES Filed Aug. 27, "1945 :s sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. ,rmmag ATTORNE Y,

- Aug. 5, 1952 42,605,563

SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FOR HoIsT LINES Filed Aug. 27, 1945 V. R. BROWNING I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l o e e Q e e o G G e G l .u 4 v V mmf;

Aug- 5, 1952 v. R. BRowNlNG 2,605,563

SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FOR I-IOIST LINES Filed Aug. 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 56 l 4 1 JNVENToR. 53 6o VICTOR R. BRowNlNe R54 BY l ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, -1952 SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FR HOIST LINES Victor RfBrowning, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Victor R. Browning & Company, Incorporated, Willoughby, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application rAugust 27, 1945, Serial No. 612,872

This invention relates to a self-containedgrab bucket unit for hoist lines and the like. More particularly, it comprises a fluid pressure operated grab bucket unit adapted to be engaged upon theend of the hoist line of a crane -or similar apparatus. i

.The invention includesa grab bucketfof substantially conventional rtype provided with an elongated fluid pressure operatedcylinder, set in diagonal operative relation to the respective halves of the grab bucket mechanism, together with means for filling and releasingr operative uid inrelation to said cylinder. v

The invention also includes a motor-drive pump. associated withran oil reservoir, together with flexible fluid connections with said cylinder and said. reservoir, whereby powerful closing action on said bucket halves may be produced at a relatively high rate ofspeed, and preferably associated with a secondary pressure.r applying means .to prevent accidental or premature partial load release.

The invention also includes the angular posi'- tioning of the hydraulic `cylinder so that a long range ofaction may be had when small space is available for the movement of the bucket halves from closed to open position and reversely.

VThe invention also includes-the control of a self-contained unit of the character above reierred to from a position remote fromrthe point of operation' and also gravity `release of-the bucket halves ata, ,higherfrate of operation'than when positive control of the bucket opening is included, the release preferably being associated with a slightly retarded opening mechanism. c

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-contained grab bucket unit for hoistlines andthe like.

Another object oftheinvention is to provide an improved iiuid pressure operated grab bucket unit carrying its individual pump, motor and reservoir associated with a remote control unit.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid pressure operated grab bucket unit wherein a hydraulic cylinder isset diagonally of the grab bucket halves,thereby insuring a long range of action within a compact area of the structure; n

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved grabV bucket unit of substantially conventional type wherein the grab buckethalves are closed by fluid pressure-means and preferably held closed by uid pressure and secondary pressure and are opened through the action .of gravity, preferably with retarded release, and

wherein the complete operative elements of the iluid pressure system are mounted on the grab bucket structure. y

Another object of the invention is-to provide an improved grab bucket of substantially any desired capacity consistent with the load limits of the crane or Aother structure, wherein the entire operative mechanism of the grab bucket is carried on the grab bucket structure and requires no separate installation or connection, full installation being made by engaging the hookof the hoist line of the crane or other apparatus through the supporting ring of the grab bucket unit.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection .with the accompanying drawings, wherein f v Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the principles of the invention, the grab bucket being shown in open position in full lines and in closed position in dotted lines; and

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 as seen from the right looking toward the center of said View;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

.and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view.

As is clearly shown in the drawings the selfcontained grab bucket unit I comprises the bucket halves or clam shells 2, 3, eachprovided with suitable reinforcing plates along their margins and having a pair of hinge arms 4, 5, respectively, at their upper corners adjacent the inner open areas. The hinge'arms of each bucket half are connected on each side with the corresponding arms on the companion bucket half by a hinge pin 6 adjacent which stop members 'l are provided on the hinge arms, said stop members being shown as plates secured to the hinge arms in a position to contact'each other when the bucket halves are in open position.

The upper outer corners ofA the bucket halves are provided with suspension brackets 8 with which the supporting members E), l0), of the vrespective bucket halves are pivotally engaged. The members 9 may have web. reinforcingon their under sidesto provide greater rigidity as supports for an abutment against which the operating member reacts, as will be presently described. The supporting members 9 and IG are provided with apertures at their upper ends and engaged on a yoke pin Il supported in a suspension yoke I2. The yoke I2 consists of spaced upstanding plates, having top yoke members I3 formed with aligned apertures to receive the suspension hook yoke pin I4, by means of which the unit is connected to the crane hook or other point of attachment for the unit.

The supporting arms S are provided adjacent the yoke I2 with a housing I5 open on its underside and of reduced size in an upward direction, the end wall of the housing serving to support a fixed abutment plate I6 against which the inner end of a heavy coiled spring I'I is seated. The abutment plate is centrally apertured and formed with a keyway to receive an eye-bolt I8 provided with a key 2D. The upper end portion of the bolt I 8 is screw-threaded (as shown at. l5 in` Fig. 3) to receive an adjustment nut 2 I and lock nut 22, the adjustment nut bearing yagainst an annulus 23 which forms a seat for the outer end of the spring Il. The end of the eye-bolt Within the housing receives a pin 2li connecting the eye 25k of the eye-bolt with a terminal stud 26 on the closed end of a uid pressure cylinder 21. The opposite end of the cylinder is closed by a packing gland Z3A having a centralv opening for the piston rod 29. The piston rod carries a piston 3l of conventional form at oneend and on its opposite end is connected to the central upper side of a cross-head or yoke 32 of shallow arched form' having yoke pins 33 at its opposite .Y

The yoke fj.

adjacent structure. The closing leverage applied to the opposite clam shell 2 Vmay be distributed over the adjacent structure by means of an inverted V-shaped brace 35- connected atV its apex centrally of the top edge of the bucket with its opposite ends secured to the hinge armsv (i adjacent the hinge pin E.

The iiuid pressure operated mechanism may be used with any suitable fluid medium and may have fluid connections at each end of the cylinder` However, in the form illustrated, a single hose connection 36 serves to admit pressure fluid te the cylinder adjacent its lower end through a T-head connection 39, having a pressure release plug. Thus fluid pressure is used to close the bucket halves and the action of gravityI serves to release and open the bucket halves,

The source of fluid pressure in the form illustrated comprises a hydraulic system having an oil reservoir with valves and distributing lines, a pump and a motor. The entire pressure unit All is mounted on a platform 42 positioned between the supporting members i6 to which it is connected by heavy cross-braces 43, carrying Aspaced upright supporting plates secured to the underside of the platform adjacent its ends, respectively. Adjacent its upper end the cylinder 2'1 is provided with a tting E@ to permit `venting the upper end of the cylinder to the atmosphere when a single pressure line is used, or serving as a point of connection for a second pressure line when positive fluid pressure operation in each direction is in View.

Any suitable power source may be used, Ythe one illustrated comprising an electric motor 5i the shaft 52 of which is directly connected to a rotary pump 53 having an intake line 54 connested with the oil reservoir 55 and a pressure line 5B connected with a valve 57. The valve illustrated is a three-way valve controlled by a solenoid 69a enclosed in a housing and adapted selectively to deliver pressure to the cylinder 2l or discharge it into the tank or reservoir 55. The solenoid is connected with theA valve element othe valve 5l by a linkageb fulcrumed at Bb on the side wall of the housing. It may hold the oil in the cylinder or permit the oil to discharge from the cylinder into the reservoir, thus bringing about the opening of the bucket through the force of gravity. A check valve 5B is provided in the pressure line 56, having a small ori-ce or bleed port 59, of such sise as to restrict the ow of oil in one direction and to provide full flow in the other direction. Thus the speed of opening of the bucket is controlled by means of the small orifice. The bucket closes with an unrestricted flow of oil toward the cylinder, but the bucket halves are prevented from falling open too rapidly by reason of' the restricted flow through theA orice toward the oil reservoir. The size of the orifice can be regulatedso as to provide, for a predetermined speed of opening of the bucket halves. In order to prevent reverse iow of oil through `the inlet pipe when the motor is idle, a check valve Gi isv` provided in the intake line 54'. Through the arrangement of valves justrd'escri-bed, uniform and dependable opening andv closing movement of the bucket is provided for. l

The ordinary operation ,of the device as above described will be obvious, the bucket halves closing under fluid pressure and opening under the inuence `of gravity. However, as it has been found that slight oil leakage may resultin sufficient separation of the bucket halves to cause fine material to dribble through the narrowcrevice at the bucket margins, means are embodied in the present disclosure to avoid this condition. The means referred to consist of thespring I1, which being interposed between the housing I5 and the fluid pressure unit, is loaded through the oil 'pressure in the closing movement of the bucket' halves and provides a slight degree of lost motion before the bucket opening takes place afterthe fluid pressure is released. Thus the bucket is locked in closedy position, under spring pressurev as Well as under iiui'd'pressura andthe spring pressure compensates; for any loss of*V fluid pressure through oil leakage. The exact manner in'which the spring I1 is placed under tension will be clearly understood by reference to Figs. l and 3, since the cylinder is held against downward movement by the heavy coil spring until the piston has completed its full upward closing travel after which slight additional iiuid pressure will place the spring under a predetermined degree of compression beiore'the fluid pressure is cut off. The switch may be arranged to automatically control the motor circuit after the closure movement is complete.

Since thebucket halves are held in closed position under spring tension as well as under fluid pressure, as soon as the fluid pressure is released the spring Will draw the cylinder upwardly'to its normal position before the bucket halves start to open through the action of gravity after the oil pressurehas been released. This action of the apparatus does not involve a large degree of movement and takesl place in a very small interval of time, practically in a fraction of a second, and therefore, the'advantages of the invention are realized Without. in any way sacrificing speed of-movement or any other features of the invention apart from the additional closing element incorporated in this apparatus. II'he advantage of having the, bucket closed firmly at all times is very great where material is transported across areas which would be unfavorably affected by the discharge of fine material, over specially prepared surfaces or over areas where foreign matter may destroy or contaminate material which must be maintained in substantially dust-free and grit-free condition. It is also to be noted that in many instances leakage from a container bucket causes appreciable losses when the material is being conveyed, and that recovery of such material may be practically impossible because of the particular area traversed between the point ofthe pick-up of the load and its place of discharge.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the mecha'nism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1 An apparatus of the character described having in combination a suspension head, pairs of link members pivotally connected at their inner'ends thereto, a pair ofpivotally connected bucket halves supported on the outer ends of said link members, a fluid pressure operating unit for closing said bucket halves, said unit including a cylinder and a piston having a rod connected at its outer end to one of said bucket halves and a fluid pressure supply connection with the inner end of said cylinder, and spring resistance connecting means between the outer end of the cylinder and the supporting links for the other bucket half for holding said bucket halves closed and retarding the opening thereof.

2. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a suspension head, pairs of link members pivotally connected at their inner ends thereto, a pair of pivotally connected bucket halves supported on the outer ends of said link members, uid pressure mechanism consisting of a cylinder and a piston therein connected to a rod extending through the inner end of said cylinder, said cylinder being disposed becarried by one of said pairs of link members for supplying fluid pressure to said mechanism to close said bucket halves, supporting means for said cylinder between its outer end and the adjacent pair of link members, said means including a compression spring arranged to be compressed by the supply of fluid pressure in closing said bucket halves, and means for releasing said fluid pressure.

3. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a suspension head, link members pivotally connected at their inner ends thereto, a pair ofpivotally connected bucket halves suspended by said link members, fluid pressure operating mechanism for closing said bucket halves, comprising a cylinder and piston and a rod connected at its inner end to said piston and extending through the inner end of said cylinder and pivotally connected at its outer end to one of said bucket halves, and means for resiliently supporting the outer end of said cylinder on the pair of link members for supporting the other bucket half, said means including aV compression spring interposed between elements thereof and arranged tobe compressed and permit downward -movement of said cylinder relative to said piston after the closure of the'bucket halves by said mechanism to apply secondary closing pressure to the latter.

4. In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination of load-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to each other, suspension means for said bucket members, afluid pressure mechanism interposed between said suspension means and said bucket members for causing movement of said bucket members into closed position, said mechanism consisting of av cylinder and a piston havingY a rod extending through one end of said cylinder and connected to one of said bucket members, an abutment carried by said suspension means, a spring interposed between said abutment and the opposite end of said cylinder and arranged to be compressed after closure of the bucket halves by the fiuid pressuremechanism, a source of fluid pressure carried on said suspension means, and means for supplying uid pressure to said cylinder from said source of fluid pressure.

5. In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination of load-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to eachother, suspension means for said bucket members, consisting of a head and pairs of depending links pivotally connected to said bucket members, a fluid pressure mechanism interposed between said suspension means and said bucket members for causing movement of said bucket members into closed position, said mechanism consisting of a cylinder and a piston having a rod extending through the inner end of said cylinder and'connected to one of said bucket members, a device onthe opposite end of said cylinder extending axially therefrom and provided with an abutment, an annular abutment, through which said device eX- tends, mounted on one of said pairs of links, a compression spring between said abutments arranged to permit endwise movement of said cylinder after closing of said bucket members by said mechanism, a source of fluid pressure carried on said suspension means, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder from said source of iuid pressure.

6. In a vself-contained grab bucket construction, the combination of load-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to each other, suspension means for said bucket members, a housing for supporting a uid pressure responsive mechanism mounted on the suspension means for one of said bucket members adjacent their upper ends, a transverse yoke connected to the companion bucket member opposite its point .of pivotal support, said fluid pressure responsive means comprising a cylinder resiliently suppension means for said bucket members, a housing mounted on the suspension means for one 0f said bucket members adjacent their upper ends, a transverse yoke connected to the companion bucket member opposite its point of pivl otal support, a cylinder resiliently supported on said housing, a piston Within said cylinder having its piston rod connected with said yoke, a fluid pressure generating unit mounted on the suspension members for the companion bucket member adjacent the lower portion thereof, and means for controlling the admission of iluid pressure to said cylinder to cause closing movement of said bucket members With the compression loading of said resilient cylinder support, said means also serving to release iiuid pressure from said cylinder, causing retarded load release under the iniluence of gravity.

8. .In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination of load-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to each other, suspension means for said bucket members, a housing mounted on the suspension means for one of said bucket members adjacent their upper ends, a transverse yoke connected to the companion bucket member opposite its point of pivotal support, a cross-bracing means mounted in the rst-mentioned bucket member, a cylinder resiliently supported on said housing, a piston within said cylinder having its piston rod connected With said yoke, a fluid pressure generating unit mounted on the suspension means for the companion bucket member adjacent the lower portion thereof,` and means for controlling the Yadmission of fluid pressure to said cylinder to cause closing movement of said bucket member with the compression loading of said resilient cylinder support, said means also serving to release iluid pressure from said cylinder, causing retarded load release under the influence of gravity.

9. In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination of a pair of hinged grab bucket halves of conventional form,l suspension means for said bucket halves consisting of a yoke adapted to be connected to a hoist cable and pairs of links pivotally connected at their inner ends to said yoke, each pair of links being pivotally connected at their outer ends tothe upper and outer corners of one of said bucket halves, frame members connected 'With the upper and inner margins of said bucket halves, a pivot provided at the free ends of each of said frame members, a fluid pressure generating unit mounted on and between one of said pairs of links intermediate the opposite ends thereof, a fluid pressure responsive device consisting of a piston and cylinder, said cylinder being pivotally supported at its inner end on and between the other pair of links and disposed at an angle to an imaginary plane cutting the axes of the pivot between said pairs of links and said yoke and the pivot for said frame members, the outer end of the rod connected to said piston being pivotally connected to the remote bucket half intermediate its upper and lower corners, a fluid pressure line connecting the cylinder With said fluid pressure generating unit, and means for controlling the application of the fluid pressure to said cylinder.

VICTOR R. BROWNNG.

REFERENCES CITEDV following references are of record in th 'file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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