US2739723A - Tail-gate responsive, unloading conveyor for shuttle loaders - Google Patents

Description

March r Y J F JOY I I 2,739,723

TAIL-GATE RE'sPo'NslvE, UNLOADING CONVEYOR FOR SHUTTLE LOADERS Original Filed July 12, 1951 V 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jbsepiz f kg.

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March 27, 1956 J. F. JOY

TAIL-GATE RESPONSIVE, UNLOADING 2,739,723 CONVEYOR FOR SHUTTLE LOADERS Original Filed July 12, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 bw 5% Km March 1956 J. F. JOY 2,739,723

TAIL-GATE RESPONSIVE, UNLOADING CONVEYOR FOR SHUTTLE LOADERS JosgvkE (76y @320 rzzey United States Patent O TAIL-GATE RESPONSIVE, UNLOADING CON- VEYOR FOR SHUTTLE LOADERS Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa'., as'signor to Joy'Manufactunng Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application July 12, 1951, Serial No. 236,292. Divided and this application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,988

19 Claims. (Cl. 214-519) This invention relates to mine haulage vehicles and more particularly to a tail-gate responsive, unloading conveyor for a shuttle-loader.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mine haulage vehicle having improved material discharging means. Another object is to provide an improved end or tail-gate for a shuttle-loader whereby the load carrying capacity of the car is greatly increased and the possibility of substantial spillage of material during travel of the car is substantially reduced. A further object is to provide an improved unloading conveyor associated with the tail-gate whereby the conveyor is in part controlled by the tail-gate. Yet another object is to provide an improved tail-gate operatively associated with a reciprocatory conveyor whose operation is in part responsive to the position of the tail-gate so that material may be discharged only when the tail-gate is open. A still further object is to provide improved control means actuated by movement of the tail-gate between its open and closed positions and operative when the gate is closed for rendering a part of the conveyor ineffective. These and other objects and advantages of the invention, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 236,292, filed July 12, 1951.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shuttle-loader in which an illustrative form of the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the shuttle-loader shown in Fig. l, with the near wheels removed and show-' ing parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2, looking toward the opposite side of the machine and likewise with the near wheels removed and parts shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view showing the end or tail-gate in open position and with parts shown in vertical section to illustrate structural details.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the shuttle-loader is generally designated 1 and generally comprises a mobile body 2 supported by propelling and steering means in the form of front traction wheels 3 and rear steering wheels 4. The'vehicle or car body has a material receiving compartment or hopper 5 extending lengthwise thereof and is provided with a rear end or tail-gate" 6. Mountedat the front end of the car body is a self-loading mechanism, generally designated 7, including a bucket 8 for gathering loose material such as loose coal or ore, and for moving the material so gathered into the hopper. Extending along the length and across the width of the hopper bottom is a reciprocatory conveyor or feeder, generally designated 9, for effecting loading of the hopper and for providing a self-discharging. mechanism for the hopper. Arranged ice at one side of the forward portion of the machine body is a recess 10 providing an operators station. Arranged between the rear and front wheels at this same side of the body is a cable reel mechanism 11 on which a conductor cable is wound for supplying electric power to an electric driving motor 12, the latter arranged between the front and rear wheels at the opposite side of the body, and this motor effects drive of a conventional pumping means 13 for supplying liquid under pressure to the various hydraulically operated devices of the machine.

The vehicle body is of a generally rectangular, low height design especially adapted to use in underground mines or tunnels, and the compartment or hopper 5 extends lengthwise of the body from end to end thereof and has parallel vertical side walls provided by vertical side plates 15. The end gate 6 closes the rear end of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 4, and is openable, as shown in Fig. 5, to permit discharge of material from the hopper, as will later be described.

The reciprocatory conveyor or feeder 9 arranged at the bottom of the hopper is of the reciprocating plate type and comprises a series of rearwardly and upwardly inclined, parallel pusher plates or bars 17 guided for reciprocation in inclined guideways 18 arranged between parallel stationary plates 19 and secured to the inner sides of the vertical side plates 15 of the hopper. These pusher plates have upper pusher surfaces 20 and, as they are rapidly reciprocated, serve to push the material received in the hopper rearwardly and upwardly thereby to fill completely the hopper. A rearward feeder plate portion or section 21 is inactive whenever the end-gate 6 is closed but when this gate is opened, this rearward feeder section is rendered eifective and coacts with the other parts of the feeder to effect complete discharge of the hoppercontents from the rear end of the vehicle. The feeder is actuated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 22, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, arranged at the opposite sides of the forward portion of the vehicle body with their axes inclined in parallelism with the guideways 18 for the pusher plates, as shown in Fig. 2. These cylinders are rigidly secured as by bolts to the vertical side plates 15 and contain reciprocable pistons having piston rods 23 secured at 24 to reciprocating frames 25 of generally rectangular shape and rigidly secured, as by screws 26, to the forward portions of longitudinally extending side bars 27 arranged at the outer sides of the vertical plates 15 and connected to the lower portions of the pusher plates. These reciprocable side bars are notched at 28 at their lower edges to receive cross bars 29 secured to the pusher plates and projecting laterally outwardly through suitable side openings 30 in the vertical side plates. Thus, as the pistons reciprocate the pusher bars 17 of the feeder are rapidly reciprocated in their guideways to effect feed. The control valve means 31 for controlling flow of fluid to and from the hydraulic cylinders 22 is fully disclosed in the copending application above referred to.

The actuating means for the rearward feeder section comprises resilient dogs or latches 32 secured to the rearward portions of the reciprocatory side bars 27, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and these latches are engageable with blocks 33 secured to the forward portions of reciprocatory sidebars 34 of the rearward feeder section. The side bars 27 are suitably guided for longitudinal movement within the lower portion of the vehicle body as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Thus, when the side bars 34 are interlocked by the latches with the reciprocatory side closed, as shown in Fig. 4, a pair of side rods 37 have" moved forwardly tofill the spaces rearwardly of the blocks 33 whereby, at this time, the latches 32 merely ride back and forth over the blocks without looking engagement therewith so that the rearward feeder section remains inactive. Lever arms 38 pivoted at 39 at the lower portion of the vehicle body to swing in longitudinal vertical planes are connected by pin and slot connections 40 to the side rods 37', and springs 41 act on the upper ends of the lever arms yieldingly to urge the side rods 37 rearwardly. The end-gate 6 is pivoted at 42 at its upper edge on the rear end of the vehicle body to swing about a horizontal transverse axis and when this gate is swung towards closed position it engages the projecting rear ends 43 of the side rods 37 to move the latter forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby to prevent locking engagement of the latches 32 with the rod-blocks 33. When the gate is opened, as shown in Pig. 5, the springs 41 move the side rods 37 rearwardly into a position wherein the latches may lockingly engage the blocks 31, thereby to connect the rear feeder section for reciprocation with the main forward feeder section. hydraulic cylinders 45, arranged at the opposite sides of the vehicle body, are each pivoted at its upper end at 46 to a suitable bracket 47 secured to the vehicle body, and these cylinders contain reciprocable pistons 43 having piston rods 49 pivotally connected at their outer ends at 50 to the sides of the lower portion of the endgate 6. Thus, by properly supplying liquid under pressure to the cylinders 45 the pistons 48 may be moved to elfect swinging of the gate into either its open or its closed position as desired. The control valve means 51 for the gate cylinders is likewise fully disclosed in the copending application mentioned above.

The mode of operation of the improved tail-gate and conveyor will now be described. The material to be transported may be gathered from the mine or tunnel fioor near the working face of the mine or tunnel by the bucket 8 and the gathered material may be moved rearwardly into the compartment or hopper of the vehicle body; it being understood at that time the end-gate 6 is in closed position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As the material is moved into the hopper by the bucket 8 the bottom conveyor or feeder 9 may be operated to move the material upwardly and rearwardly, and, since the rear end of the hopper is closed by the end-gate 6, the hopper may be completely filled with material. The loaded vehicle may then be trammed along the mine or tunnel passageways by the traction wheels to a suitable point of delivery remote from the working face, and the discharge end of the vehicle may be brought up to its proper discharge position. The swing cylinders 45 for the end-gate 6 may then be operated to swing the gate upwardly into its open position (Fig. 5) and the latches 32 automatically connect the rear conveyor section to the main conveyor section to effect discharge of the hopper contents through the open discharge end of the hopper completely to unload the latter. After the vehicle is unloaded, the end-gate 6 may again be closed, throwing out the rear feed section of the conveyor, and the vehicle may then be trammed through the mine or tunnel passageways back to the initial working place whereby loading may again be effected.

As a result of this invention an improved mine haulage vehicle is provided which embodies a material-receiving compartment of relatively large capacity and which may be readily and quickly loaded and unloaded. The provision of the reciprocatory bottom conveyor or feeder together with the end-gate enables complete filling of the hopper and enables rapid discharge of the material from the hopper. By operatively associating the end-gate with the conveyor, the operation of the latter is responsive to the position of the end-gate so that the gate is always open Whenever the conveyor is operated to efiect discharge. These and other advantages will be clearly apparent to. those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described A pair of 4. one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same isshown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A material haulage vehicle comprising a mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment, a movable end-gate for said compartment, a main conveyor section at the bottom of said compartment, a cooperating rear conveyor section providing a continuation of said main conveyor section, driving, means for said conveyor sections, and means controlled by movement of said endgate for controlling the drive. of said rear conveyor section whereby the latter is driven only when said endgate is at least partially open.

2. A material haulage vehicle comprisinga mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment, a movable end-gate for said compartment, a forward conveyor section at the bottom of said compartment, 2. cooperating rearward conveyor section, means for driving said forward conveyor section, means providing a releasable connection between said sections whereby said front sec tion may drive said rear section, and means controlled by movement of said end-gate for effecting or interrupt-I ing the drive between said conveyor sections automatically to render said rear section inactive whenever said gate is closed.

3. A material haulage vehicle comprising a mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment extending lengthwise thereof, a movable end closure for said compartment mounted on said body for movement into and out of closed position, a forward conveyor section at the bottom of said compartment, a coacting rearward con-, veyor section forming a continuation of said forwardsection, means for driving said forward conveyor section, a releasable driving connection between said sections whereby said forward section may drive saidrearward section, and means controlled by movement of said movable end closure for automatically effecting release of said driving connection whenever said closure is moved into its closed position.

4. A material haulage vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said conveyor sections are of the reciprocatory type and said driving means for said forward conveyor section includes a reciprocatory side bar extending longitudinally of said vehicle body.

5'. A material haulage vehicle comprising a mobile body having a material-recei'ving-compartrnent extending lengthwise thereof, an end closure for said compartment mounted on said body for movement into and out of closed position, a forward conveyor section at the bottom of said compartment, a coacting rearward conveyor section forming a continuation. of said forward section, means for driving said forward conveyor section, said conveyor sections being of the reciprocatory type and said driving means for said forward conveyor section including a reciprocatory side bar extending longitudinal- 1y of said vehicle body, a releasable driving connection between said sections to effect drive of said rearward section by said forward section, and means controlled by said movable end closure for automatically effectively release of said driving connection when said'closure is. moved into its closed position, said releasable driving connectionincluding av releasable latch carried by said reciprocatory side bar and a latch-engaging block mountedto reciprocate with an element. of said rearward conveyor section and automatically lockingly engageable by said latch when said end closure is in open position.

6. A material haulage vehicle as set forth in claim 5' wherein said means controlled by said movable end closure includes a longitudinal side bar for automatically"- throwing out said latch from locking; engagement said block when said end closure is moved into its closed position.

7. In combination, a vehicle body having a material receiving compartment, a bottom conveyor for discharg ing material from said compartment, a movable end gate for closing the discharge end of said compartment during loading of material into the compartment, driving means for said conveyor, and control means actuated by movement of said end-gate for controlling drive of the said conveyor by said driving means to effect driving of said conveyor only when the end-gate is open, said control means movable to render said driving means ineffective to drive said conveyor when said end-gate is closed.

8. In combination, a vehicle body having a materialreceiving-conipartment, a bottom conveyor for discharging material from said compartment, said conveyor being of the reciprocatory type and having a reciprocatory actuating bar, an end-gate for closing the discharge end of said compartment during loading of material into the compartment, driving means for said conveyor, and control means actuated by said end-gate for controlling drive of the said conveyor by said driving means to effect drive of said conveyor only when the end-gate is open, said control means movable to render said driving means ineffective to drive said conveyor when said end-gate is closed, said control means including a releasable latch for connecting said bar in driving relation with said conveyor.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control means includes a rod actuated by said endgate for controlling the operation of said latch, said rod efiecting release of said latch when said gate is closed.

10. In combination, a vehicle body having a material receiving compartment, an unloading conveyor, driving means for said conveyor, an end-gate for said compartment movable into open and closed positions, and means responsive to movement of said end-gate to a predetermined position for controlling the operation of said unloading conveyor to eifect unloading of the compartment only when said end-gate is open, said movement responsive means also effecting interruption of drive of said conveyor when said end-gate is closed.

11. A material haulage vehicle comprising a mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment, a movable end-gate for said compartment, means for moving said gate between open and closed positions, conveying means extending along the bottom of said compartment lengthwise of the latter and comprising a main conveyor section and a cooperating rear conveyor section, driving means for said main conveyor section, means for connecting said rear conveyor section to said main conveyor section to effect drive of the former by the latter, and means actuated by movement of said gate for connecting said rear conveyor section to said main conveyor section when the gate is moved by said moving means toward its open position.

12. A material haulage vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said gate-movement-actuated means effects release of said rear conveyor section from said main conveyor section when said gate is moved by said moving means toward its closed position.

13. A material haulage vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said connecting means between said conveyor sections comprises a latch on said main conveyor section for connecting said rear section to said main section, said connecting means including means for releasing said latch when said gate is moved toward closed position.

14. A material haulage vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said main and rear conveyor sections are disposed at the same level at the bottom of said compart ment with said sections in longitudinal alignment.

15. A material haulage vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein a latch-releasing rod extends longitudinally at one side of said rear conveyor section and is actuated by said end-gate.

16. In combination, a vehicle body having a materialreceiving-compartment, a conveyor, driving means for said conveyor, an end-gate for said compartment movable between open and closed positions, means for moving said gate between said positions, and means responsive to movement of said end-gate to a predetermined position for controlling operation of said conveyor to effect actuation of said conveyor to initiate unloading of said compartment only when said end-gate is at least partially open.

17. A material haulage vehicle comprising a mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment extending lengthwise thereof, a movable end closure for said compartment mounted on said body for movement into and out of closed position, means for moving said end closure toward and from said closed position, a forward conveyor section at the bottom of said compartment, a coacting rearward conveyor section at the compartmentbottom providing a continuation of said forward section, means for driving said forward conveyor section, a releasable driving connection between said connections to effect drive of said rearward section by said forward section, and means controlled by movement of said end closure by said moving means for automatically effecting release of said driving connection between said conveyor sections whenever said enclosure is moved into its closed position.

18. In a material haulage vehicle, a mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment extending lengthwise thereof, reciprocatory conveyor means extending along the bottom of said compartment for effecting loading of material into and for discharging material from said compartment, said conveyor means including a main reciprocatory forward conveyor section and a rear reciprocatory discharge conveyor section, driving means for said main conveyor section, and a releasable connection between said reciprocatory sections for interrupting drive of said rear section during loading of the compartment and for effecting connection of said rear section with said main section for drive by the latter to effect discharge of material from said compartment.

19. In a material haulage vehicle, a mobile body having a material-receiving-compartment extending lengthwise thereof, reciprocatory conveyor means extending along the bottom of said compartment for effecting loading of material into and for discharging material from said compartment, said conveyor means including a main forward conveyor section and a rear discharge conveyor section, driving means for said main conveyor section, and a releasable connection between said sections for interrupting drive of said rear section during loading of the compartment and for efi'ecting connection of said rear section with said main section for drive by the latter to effect discharge of material from said compartment, said releasable connection including a latch on said main conveyor section and engageable with an element of said rear conveyor section and a releasing element for releasing said latch to interrupt drive of said rear section during loading of material in said compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlZTED STATES PATENTS 1,341,239 Mason May 25, 1920 1,442,295 Porter Jan. 16, 1923 2,082,673 Williamson June 1, 1937 2,394,006 Osgood Feb. 5, 1946 2,670,836 Ball Mar. 2, 1954 2,673,638 Barrett et al Mar. 30, 1954

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