US2859544A - Ladder type ditcher - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS 2,859,544

LADDER TYPE DITCHER Filed Jan. 18, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. EVANS ATTQR'N EYS Q WA M Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS LADDER TYPE DITCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 F INVENTOR. VCHARLES E. EVANS BY @m kw mwfl ATTORNEYS C. E. EVANS LADDER TYPE DITCHER Nov. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. EVANS ATTOR EYS mm m R .m? h: am oh Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS 2,859,544

LADDER TYPE DITCHER Filed Jan. 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. EVANS ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1958 c. E. EVANS 2,859,544

LADDER TYPE-I DITCHER 4 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 5 Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. EVANS ATTORNEYS United .States Patent LADDER TYPE DITCH'ER Charles E. Evans, Naperville Township, Du Page County, Ill., assignor to Barber-Greene Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 18, 1955, Serial No. 482,532

8 Claims. (Cl. 37--90) This invention relates to improvements in ditchers and more particularly relates to an improved form of ditcher of the endless bucket line type for excavating ditches in earth and like material.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of ditcher having a simple and novel form of boom arrangement enabling the boom to be more readily manipulated than formerly.

Another object of my invention is to provide an endless bucket line type of ditcher having an improved form of boom arrangement pivoted to break intermediate its ends to increase the maneuverability thereof, and so arranged as to maintain the head shaft for driving the bucket line stationary and in the same general relation with respect to the bucket line regardless of the position of the movable part of the boom.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a boom construction particularly adapted for a ladder type ditcher having a stationary frame structure having the head shaft and the guide chute carried thereon and a movable beam structure pivoted thereto and shiftable by power into elevated traveling positions and lower digging positions, together with a simplified form of shifter strucutre selectively positionable to accommodate manipulation of the beam for digging and elevation of the beam for traveling from place to place.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel form of truck mounted ladder type ditcher having a boom pivoted to break intermediate its ends, with a hydraulic cylinder and piston for shifting the movable boom portion into an operative digging position from an upwardly extending traveling position, together with a pivoted shifter frame forming a support for one end or the cylinder and piston and shiftable into one position to accommodate the cylinder and piston to elevate the movable boom portion for traveling and into another position to accommodate the cylinder and piston to depress the movable boom portion for digging.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a persepective view of a ladder type truck mounted ditcher constructed in accordance with my invention looking toward one side thereof from the rear end thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the ditcher shown in Fi ure 1 showing the boom in a digging position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ditcher showing the movable boom portion elevated, with the bucket line resting on the ground and in a position to start a ditching operation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ditcher showing the ditcher boom in a fully elevated traveling position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary portion of the ditcher;

plan view of the rear end "ice Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed view showing the shifter frame carrying the elevating means for the ditcher inside elevation;

Figure 7 is an end view of the shifter frame shown in Figure 6 with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in vertical section; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the shifter frame shown in Figures 6 and 7. i

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings I have shown a ladder type ditcher 10 mounted on the rear end portion of a frame 11 of a truck 12, herein shown as being a well known form of automotive truck mounted on the usual rubber tired frontsteering wheels 13 and rear drive wheels 14. l

The portion of the truck frame 11 rearwardly vof the cab for the truck forms a platform for a boom 16 which comprises generally a stationary head frame structure 15 mounted on the rear portion of the truck frame 11 and a vertically movable beam 17 pivoted to the rear end of said head frame structure. The beam 17 is pivoted on ears 19, projecting rearwardly from opposite sides of the head frame structure 15 and forming a support for pivot pins 20 extending through said ears and the furcations of a bifurcated rear end portion 21 of the beam 17. i

The head frame structure 15 is shown as having a transverse head shaft 22 journaled at opposite sides of said head frame structure at the upper end thereof and having a head sprocket 23 keyed or otherwise secured thereto and meshing with an endless chain digger or chain 24 of an endless bucket line 25, for driving the same about the boom 16. V

The beam 17 is shown as having a foot shaft 26 carried at its extreme forward end portion having an idler sprocket 27 carried thereon and meshing with the endless chain 24 and forming a foot sprocket therefor. The shaft 26 is carried at its ends in parallel spaced slides 29, slidably guided in beam 17 between the flanges thereof and suitably retained thereto. The slides 29 are movable along the beam 17 to take up tension on the chain 24 by a usual tension adjustment rod means commonly used to take up tension on conveyor and like chains and indicated generally by reference 30, and no part of my present invention so not herein shown or de scribed further. r

The endless bucket line 25 is herein shown as comprising the endless chain 24 having a plurality of spaced 37, and may be reversely operable to discharge ma-l terial onto the ground to either side of the truck 10.

The extensible chute 37 is shown in Figure 2 as being inclined at the angle of the digging run of the bucket line 25 when in a digging position, to accommodate the cutters 35 and scrapers 36 to progress the excavated earth upwardly therealong for discharge onto the conveyor 39, and has an inclined stationary rear end portion 40 and an extensible lower end portion 41 telescopically mounted with respect to said rear end portion and having boots 43 extending forwardly from each side thereof and serving to retain the excavated earth to the chute 37.

The lower chute portion 41 is extensibly or retractably moved with respect to the upper chute portion 40;

tensible therefrom and connected between spaced cars 46 projecting from the bottom of the lower chute portion 41.

A shoe 47 is mounted at the rear end of the truck frame 11 and depends therefrom to engage the inside of the lower .run of the bucket line when the beam 17 is in position to rest the bucket line on the ground and when the beam is in the elevated roading position shown in Figure 4. A roller 48 is spaced forwardly along the truck frame 11 to cooperate with the shoe 47 and take up on the chain when the bucket line is resting on the ground and when the boom is in its elevated position.

The drive to the head shaft 22 and head sprocket 23 is through a gear box 49 (Figure having suitable reduction gearing (not shown) therein which may be driven from the transmission for driving the truck in any well known manner and no part of my present invention, so not herein shown or described further. The gear box 49 has a drive shaft 50 extending outwardly therefrom .and having a sprocket 51 on-the outer end thereof meshing with and driving an endless chain 53. Thezendless'chain 53 meshes with teeth 54 shown as being formed integrally with .a drum 55 for a safety clutch 56 on the head shaft 22, for driving the same. The safety clutch 56 may be of any well known form of friction slip clutch, slipping upon predetermined loads and is no part of my present invention, so need not herein be shown .or described further.

The movable beam 17 is shown in Figure 2 as having 7 brackets 60 extending from .opposite sides thereof intermediate theends thereof, toward the digging run of the bucket line 25.. The brackets 60 form a support for an 7 idler roller .61' journaled therebetween on a transverse shaft 62, mountcdat its ends in said brackets. The idler roller 61 serves torbackup the bucket line during the digging operation thereof, and to maintain a substantially straight bucket line from the foot sprocket 27 to the head sprocket 23 when the bucket line is in its-extreme digging position.

A cylinder 63, having a piston (not shown) movable therein and a piston rod 64 extensible therefrom, is provided to crowd the movable beam 17 into its digging position and hold said movable beam in the digging position shown in Figure 2 and also to lift said movable beam for transportation. As herein shown, the piston rod 64 is connected at its free end between a pair of spaced cars 65 projecting from "the opposite side of the movable beam 17 from the brackets .60 and forming a support for a pivot pin 66, pivotally connecting the piston rod 64 to said movable beam. The head end of the cylinder 63 is shown as having an car 67 projecting therefrom and connected to the center of an arcuate yoke .69 on an upright pivot pin 70. The arcuate yoke is shown as being connected at its free ends between parallel spaced inner and outer side plates 71, 71 and 72, 72 of a shifter frame 73 on axially aligned pivot pins 74, 74. The shifter frame 73 is shown as being generally triangular in side elevation although it may be of various other forms, and as being mounted on the head frame structure 15 for movement about the axis of the transverse pins 20. As herein shown, the inner end portions of the side plates 71 and 72 of the shifter frame 73 are mounted on the pins 20 on opposite sides of the furcations 21 of the movable beam 17 and form a selectively movable support for the cylinder :63, connecting said cylinder to the head frame 15 in selected positons of adjustment, to effect a wide range of pivotal movement of the movable beam 17 bythe operation of a single cylinder and piston;

The upper rear end portions of the plates '71 and 72 are connected together by aligned sleeves or pipes 75, 75 which also form a pivotal support for spaced take-up arms 76, 76 pivotally mounted thereon inwardly of the inner plates 72, 72 of the shifter frame 73 and spaced apart by a coupling member 77, mounted on the inner ends of the pipes 75, 75 in position to abut the inner sides 4 of the arms 76 and coupling the inner ends of the pipes 75, 75 together.

A locking pin 79 may be selectively extended through spaced lugs 80 extending rearwardly of the head frame structure 15 above spaced lugs 19 and through the pipes 75 and coupling member 77, to hold the shifter frame 73 in position to connect the cylinder 63 to the head frame structure 15, to crowd the bucket line into the earth at the beginning of the digging operation and maintain the bucket line in the fully downwardly extended position shown in Figure 2. The pin 79 may also be inserted through spaced lugs 81 extending upwardly and rearwardly from a brace member 82- of the head frame structure 15 for holding the shifter frame 73 in position to connect the head end of the cylinder 63 to the head frame structure 15 in position to elevate the movable beam 17 to the extreme traveling position shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 8, I have shown spacer links 78, which may be provided between the plates 71 and 72 in'cooperation with the pipes 75, to maintain the plates 71 and 72 in spaced relation with respect to each other and to stiffen the shifter frame structure.

A tension idler 83 is carried between the free ends of the take-up arms 76 on a transverse shaft 84, which is mounted at its ends on said arms. The tension idler 83 is meshed with the endless chain 24, and is biased to maintain tension on the endless chain 24 when in the digging position shown in Fig. 2 and when being crowded into a digging position by downward pivotal movement of the movable beam '17 by a compression spring 85.

The compression spring 85 is seated on a flanged stud 86 at its upper end having a sleeve 87 formed integrally therewith and extending transversely thereof. The sleeve 87 is shown as being pivotally mounted bet-ween the take-up arms "76 on a pivot pin v89. Theopposite end of the compression spring 85 is seated on a flanged stud 90, the stud of which extends 'partially within said spring and has a sleeve 92 formed integrally therewith, through which extends a pivot pin 93 mounted .at its ends in inwardly extending and-depending ear portions 94 of the inner plates 72 of the shifter frame '73. A pair of spaced links 95 are pivotally mounted on the outer ends of the pivot pin 89 on the outer sides of the take-up arms 76 and extend downwardly along opposite sides of the spring 85. 'The links 95 have slots 96 extending along their lower end portions having slidablc engagement with the pivot'pin 93 inwardly of depending-ear portions 94.

The spring 85 thus'biases the take-up arms "76 and idler sprocket 83 in a take up direction to maintain the required tension on the chain 24 during the digging operation of the bucket line.

A chain 99, is suitably secured at one end to the frame structure 15 of the boom 16 to the left of the pin 20, as shown in Figure 4. Said chain has a hook on its opposite end which may be hooked over the upper run of the bucket line 25 to prevent sagging of the lower run of the bucket line during transportation of the ditcher.

In operation of the ditcher, the truck may be moved to a location close to the working place in the upwardly extending or roading position shown in Figure 4. The beam 17 may then be lowered by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 63 and piston rod 64 to allow the bucket line to rest on the ground. The pin 79 may then be removed from the spaced lugs 81. In order to do this, the cylinder 63 may be manipulated by the admission of hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto to ease the load on the pin 79. The chain 99 may then be unhooked from the bucket line, and hooked between the arms 76 out of the way.

When the pin 79 has been removed from the lugs or cars 81, hydraulic fluid under pressure maybe admitted to the piston rod end of-the cylinder 63 to pivot the shifter trainees in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 3. The rod or-pin 79 may thenbe inserted through the lugs 80 and the pipes 75 of the shifter frame 73 to lock the shifter frame in the position shown The beam 17 may then be gradually lowered and as it v is lowered to the position wherethe endless chain 24 is relatively taut as shown ,in Figure 3, the bucket line 25 may be started in operation. Fluid under pressure may then be admitted to the head end of the cylinder 63 to gradually crowd the beam 17 and bucket line 25 into the ground, pivoting said boom in a clockwise direction. At the same time the extensible lower chute 41 on the upper chute portion 40 and the boot 43- may be lowered into position close to the ground by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 44 and piston rod 45.

Lowering movement of the beam 17 may becontinued until said beam reaches the position shown in Figure 2, at which position the digging and load carrying run of the bucket line 25 is in a substantially'straight line between the foot sprocket 27 and head'sprocket 23. The truck 12 may then be put into operation to progress the digger along the ground and continue the digging operation as desired.

When it is again desired to travel, fluid under pressure may be admitted to the piston rod end of the cylinder 63 elevating the beam 17 to the position shown in Figure l. The truck 12 may then be operated to move the digger away from the ditch to a relatively flat spot on the ground at which time the beam 17 may be lowered by the admission of fluid under pressure to-the head end of the cylinder 63. The pin 79 may then be removed from the ears 80.

Fluid under pressure may again be admitted to the head end of the cylinder 63, pivoting the shifter frame 73 in a counterclockwise direction into position to register the pipes 75 with the holes through the ears81.

The pin 79 may then be placed through the holes in said the elevated position shown in Figure 4 by the admission of fluid under pressure to the piston rod end of the cyl inder 63. The chain 99 may then be hooked over the bucket line to prevent sagging of the lower end thereof. It may beseen from the foregoing that I have provided a truck mounted, ladder type ditcher of a more compact arrangement than former ditchers by breaking the boom in the center and pivoting the free end portion thereof, to accommodate the boom to be positioned in the downwardly extended digging position shown in Figure 2, and in the extreme upwardlyextending roading position shown in Figure 4.

It may further be seen that the compactness and the maneuverability of the beam 17 is attained in anextremely simple manner and the beam is moved to its various positions by a single stroke double acting cyl: inder and piston through the use of a shifter frame connecting the cylinder and piston to the stationary boom structure and shiftable by the cylinder and piston into position to hold the cylinder and, piston to crowd the bucket line into the earth for digging and maintain'the bucket line in a digging position and elevate the bucket line from its digging position, and is also shiftable into a second position to accommodate the same cylinder and piston to pivot the beam 17 in the extreme upwardly extended roading position shown in Figure 4.

It will be understood that various modifications and variations of the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the never concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a self propelled ladder type ditcher, a truck having a frame, a boom supported on said frameand comprising a stationary head frame structure on said truck frame and beam pivoted to the rear end of stationary head frame structure for movement about a transverse axis, a head shaft on said stationary head frame structure having a drive sprocket thereon, a foot shaft on the free end of said beam having an idler sprocket thereon, an endless bucket line trained about said idler sprocket and driven from said drive sprocket and moving about said boom for the length thereof, cylinder and piston means connected between said beam and said head 7 frame structure for crowding said beam for digging and lifting said beam into an elevated position, and a means connecting said cylinder and piston means with said stationary head frame structure comprising a shifter frame pivoted to said stationary head structure for movement about the axis of pivotal movement of said beam and having said cylinder and piston means connected thereto at a point spaced outwardly from the pivotal axis of said beam, said cylinder and piston means being optransverse axis, a head shaft on said stationary head frame structure having a drive sprocket thereon, a foot shaft on the free end of said beam having an idler sprocket thereon, an endless bucket line trained about said idler sprocket and driven fromsaid drive sprocket and moving about said boom for the length thereof, cylinder and piston means connected between said beam and said head frame structure for crowding said beam for digging and lifting vtionary head frame structure comprising a shifter frame pivoted to said stationary head structure for movement about the axis of pivotal movement of said beam and having said cylinder and piston means connected thereto at a point spaced outwardly from the pivotal axis of said beam, said cylinder and piston means being operative to move said shifter frame into a plurality of selected operating positions, and locking means for selectively locking said shifter frame in its selective operative positions, a take-up arm pivoted on said shifter frame and having an idler sprocket on the end thereof meshing with said bucket line, and spring means interposed between said shifter frame and take-up arm for biasing said take-up frame and including astationary head frame structure and a pivoted beam pivoted to and projecting from said head frame structure and forming a continuation thereof,

a head shaft on said stationary head frame structure, a foot shaft at the free end of said beam, a drive sprocket on said head shaft,an idler sprocket on said foot shaft,

an endless bucket line trained about said sprockets and; driven from said drive sprocket, cylinder and piston means having connection with said pivoted beam adjacent said foot shaft for vertically moving said beam about the pivotal axis thereof, and selectively positional mounting means for said cylinder and piston means, mounting said cylinder and piston means on said stationary head frame and angularly adjustable into position to maintain said cylinder and piston means in effective position to rowd. aid b m et r igging ns gula ly,

positionable into position to support said cylinder; and piston means in an elevated position, to pivot saidibeam into an elevated position fonroadingt; I

4. In an endlessbucket type, of ditcheriof the class described, a base frame, a boom-mounted on said base frame andincluding a statiQnary head frame anda beam pivoted to and proiecting from;said, head frame and forming; a continuation thereof, a headtshaftion said head; frame, a foot shaft at the free endhofasaid-beam, a drive sprocket on said head shaft, an idler sprocket on saidfoot shaft, and endless bucket line trained about said shafts and driven from said drive sprocket, cylinder and piston meanshaving connection-with saidbeam for rele-i vating and lowering} said. beam about its axis of connection to said head frame, selectively. positionable support means for said cylinder. and piston means;adjustably mounted-on said head frame comprising a shifter frame movably mounted onsaidhead. frame and havingsaid cylinder. and ,piston, means pivotally connected thereto,

means for selectively locking ,said shifter. frame in a plurality of selected operative, positions, saidshifter framehavinga take-up arm pivoted thereto having an idler sprocket thereonengaging said bucket line, and

means onflsaid shifter, frame for. biasing said take-up arm and sprocket to take up slack on said bucket line.

5. A boom structure particularly adapted-foran endless bucket ladder type ditcher comprising a base frame, a head frame mountedon said'base frame, a beam transversely pivoted .to said head. frame and forming a continuation thereof, and extending beyond said base frame,

a shifter frame transverselypivoted-on said head frame and selectivelypositionable into aplurality of selected typeendlessbucket ditchers comprisinga base frame, a.

head framemounted onsaid, base frame, a beam trans,-

versely pivoted to saidheadframeand extendingbeyond the end thereof, a head shaft and sprocket on said head frame, a footshaft and, sprocket on the-free end of said beam, and endless bucket a line trained about said sprockets and driven fromsaid head shaft, a shifter frame pivoted on saidheadframeformovement about an axis,

coaxial with the, pivotahaxis of said beam and shiftable into apluralityof stationary operative positions, cylinder, and piston mea s, 'conneeted,betweensaid shifter frame and saidbea liformoving said shifter frame intoaplurality ofjoppratiye positions, and, for. vertically moving said beammp'pn theulocking of. said: shifter frame in-a;

selective operative position, .means. selectively operable to lock said shifterflfr-arne in one: operative position to position said cylinder: and pistonmeans to crowd said movable bucketline in a ,diggingdirectionand, in a second operative position to position said.v cylinder and ,piston means to elevate saidv beam rintoanflelevated roading p it ona 7. Inaself propelled ladder .type ditcher, a truckhaving a frame, a boom supported on saidframe and extend ing beyond the rear end, thereof, and comprising a stationary. head frame structure .mQunted, on, said frame adjacent the rear end thereof and abeam transversely 83-. pivoted, to; said head, framestructure at the. rearend: 9 5% head Shaft;QmSaidKhead-frame structure having; a=.-dri,v 'esppocketthereorr; asfootishaft. on-1 thefreeend of, said-.beamnhaving, an, idler; sprocket thereon, an endless-- bucket line trained about said sprockets and driven from saiddrivesprocket; cylinder and piston means connected betwefil wsaidahead framerstructure andqsaid beam for pivoting; said 'be am into'its several operative positions, meansmonnectingpaid; eylinderand piston means totsaid, head frame structure to effect lowering movement of-,said beam into a.igenenally upright ditchdigging position and to effect upward, moyement of said beam into an upwardlyextending; roadinggposition, comprising a shifter frame, shiftablesint a, plurality of selective operative positions-= and having,;said;cylindenand=pistontmeans, pivotally connected theretm; meanswseleetively operable to lock said, shifter frametosaid headframestructure toconneetsaid, cylinder and -pis ton, means -;toi said head, frame, structurev in position, to hold said bearn;in--sai d first mentioned selec:

" tive;generally;up1 ight diggingrposition; and to elevatesaid.

, upwardlyextendingroading positions 8; A;bo om structurenparticularly adapted for :ladder: type endless, bucket ditchersa comprising a base frame,-:, a; head frame mounted on said base frame, a beampivoted'. to said head; frame fon {vertical movement about attransverse axis ;and;extending beyond the-end-thereof,,avheadt;. shaft B-Ud,SP,I',OCkt;:OI1;S3-id head;.frame,a foot shaft and; sprockenonthe, free .end'of-said beam, an endlessbucketlinetrainedaboutqsaid sprockets and driven from:- said. sprocket'on saidwvhead shaft, a shifter frame pivoted on, said head-frameformovement;about an axis coaxial with the, axis ofpivotal movement of said beam,,cylinder and piston means connected between, said shifter frame and. said;beam, said3cylinden and piston means being operable tomove' said shifter frame intoaupl'urality of selected. operative positions and to pivot said beam upon IhflilOCk-z ingof saidshifter frame inone ofiits selectedoperativet positions, said shifter frame being selectively positionable in; one, of said plurality,;of;,selected; operative positions to.- position; said ;cylinder and piston means to OPBIBIQzSfildi' beam ina ,digging direotion and being selectively posittionable ma-second ofsaid plurality of. selected operative positions topositionsaidpylinderand piston means tolift; id e m intozan elevated reading position, meanstl'ockra 2r aidishifterzframetin its severalselected operativezpor; sitionsmakesup arms .pivotally mounted on said Shifter frame'iand'sheving a take-up idler ithereonengaging said bucket line, and spring :means; on'said shifter frame bias-1 ing said take-41p; arms-in aitakei-upi direction.

References Citedinthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 412,008 I GreatvBritain Iune 21, 1934

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