US3543915A - Elevator for scraper - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Inventor Ronald Paul Grossklaus Mollne, Illinois Appl. No. 754,199 Filed Aug. 21, 1968 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Assignee Deere & Company Moline, Illinois a corporation of Delaware ELEVATOR FOR SCRAPER 21 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 198/203, I98/ I 95: 37/8 Int. Cl. ..B65g 15/30, B65 g 23/00 Field of Search 198/168 195, 203; 37/8(Burr); 308/15, 22, 7i

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,465,454 9/1969 Hancock 37/8 558,642 4/1896 Fayol 308/72 Primary Examiner-Edward A, Sroka Attorney-H. Vincent Harsha, Harold M. Knoth and William A. Murray and John M. Nolan ABSTRACT: A mounting arrangement for the drive sprocket structure on the upper end of an elevator frame in which the sprockets drive a pair of transversely spaced chains interconnec'ted by rigid flights. The elevator frame has a pair of transversely spaced upwardly opening sockets that receive downwardly extending pins of transversely spaced sprocket supports, one sprocket support is connected to the end of the drive sprocket structure by means of pivots and the other support is connected to its respective end by a relatively loose connection so that the entire drive sprocket structure may self-position itself toprevent stresses being set up in the structure.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Shoot FIG. I

M rs U NA L K S S O R G P R FIG. 5

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 INVENTOR. R. P. GROSSKLA US ATTORNEY ELEVATOR FOR SCRAPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a scraper having a forwardly opening bowl and an elevator disposed across the forward open end thereof. Still more particularly this invention relates to the drive sprocket structure at the upper end of the elevator and the means for supporting the structure on the elevator frame so that it may be self-positioning in order to prevent stresses from being created in the structure.

It has heretofore been known to provide a flight-type elevator at the forward end of a scraper bowl that operates to move dirt passing over the cutting edge at the forward end of the bowl upwardly and rearwardly into the bowl. Such an elevator normally includes an inclined rigid main frame that carries a pair of transversely flight elements. The chains are driven by transversely extending sprocket structure that is rigidly supported on the upper end of the elevator frame.

The problem that sometimes is created in the aforedescribed elevator is that the transverse drive structure is relatively wide and consequently the various bearings, shaft portions and other parts making up the transverse sprocket structure may not be completely axially alined. Consequently when the drive sprocket structure is rigidly mounted on the elevator frame, stresses are created in the transverse structure.

Since the drive structure has high torsional loads created by driving the elevator, the combination of stresses and loads may eventually create a failure in the transverse drive structure. Also, when the structure is rigidly mounted on the frame, it is often very difficult to disassemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide mounting supports between the upper end of the elevator frame and the transverse drive structure. The frame is provided with a pair of transversely spaced and upwardly opening sockets. The support for one end of the elevator includes a pin that is received in the respective socket and a pivotal connection to one end of the drive structure which will permit the structure to shift slightly and in various directions. The opposite end support is composed of a pin that is received in its respective socket and a connection to the transverse structure that is sufficiently articulate to accommodate shifting of the structure about the pivot means connecting the other support to its end. Thus, there is provided a self-positioning supporting means for the elevator drive sprocket structure. Also, should it be desired to remove the drive sprocket structure for any reason, the chains of the elevator may be broken and the entire structure removed from the sockets on the elevator.

It is further proposed with the above described mounting structure to provide a drive for the elevator that includes the pair of drive sprockets and a rigid torsion-transmitting structure between the sprockets. The latter structure has a hollow portion between the sprockets with an internal speed-reducing gear drive driven by a main drive shaft that extends axially outwardly of one of the sprockets. A rotary type hydraulic motor is provided in a generally coextensive relation to the drive shaft and is drivingly connected thereto. The motor housing is supported on and held against movement by the support for one end of the drive structure. Consequently the entire drive structure is easily removed for maintenance and repair by disconnecting the chains and the hydraulic fittings for the motor. The preferred form of the support is composed of a universal-type joint utilizing a pair of pivots, one of which is vertical and the other of which is fore and aft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a tractor and scraper utilizing the elevator structure which is the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the elevator structure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the elevator structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a support between the drive sprocket structure and the main frame as taken substantially along the line 55 ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A tractor has a pair of front steerable wheels 11, I2 and a pair of rear traction wheels l3, 14 carried on a transverse rear axle structure 15. The tractor 10 includes an elongated tractor body 16 with a forwardly disposed engine or main power source mounted under a hood 17. To one side of the engine hood or housing 17 is an operator's station, indicated only partially by the steering wheel .18. Supported by and formed above the tractor axle is a structure defining an universal hitch 19 for connection to a trailing-type scraper implement indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. The scraper is composed of a material container or bowl having upright sides 22 interconnected at their lower edges by a floor structure shown only partially in FIG. 1 at 23. The bowl is open at its forward end and has an upwardly inclined elevator 24 extending across the open front of the bowl. As is conventional, there is a cutting edge along the front transverse edge of the bowl and the elevator operates in a manner so that the material passing over the edge is elevated or conveyed rearwardly into the rear section of the bowl. The scraper is connected to the hitch device l9so that the entire implement may move vertically as well as laterally. The hitch connection is in the form of a Y-shaped beam structure 25 having a gooseneck forward section 26 directly and articulately connected to the hitch l9 and a pair of leg portions, one being shown at 27, extending rearwardly for connection to the upper'edges of the sides 22. The latter side beams are interconnected to the lower forward edges ofthe sidewalls 22 by means of hydraulic cylinders 28, 29 which may be extended and retracted for purposes of raising and lowering the entire bowl.

The elevator 24 is composed of an elongated inclined main frame 30 including an upper horizontal transverse beam 31 and rigid and rearwardly projecting arms 32, 33 pivotally connected at 35 to upwardly projectingbracket lugs 37 on the upper edges'of the sides 22 respectively. A pair of side beams 38, 39 extend downwardly to a lower elevator end. The side beams are connected at their lower ends to a lower transverse beam structure 40. A pair of beams 41, 42 is rigid with and projects outwardly of the side beams 38, 39 adjacent their lower ends and contacts stops, not shown, on the sides 22 so as to limit downward movement 'of the frame 30. As will be readily apparent from viewing FIG." I, the entire elevator 24 has a floating relation to the bowl and will move both upwardly and longitudinally to accommodate the material passing into the bowl. The conveying mechanism on the elevator is composed of a pair of longitudinally extending continuous chains 43, 44 mounted over idler sprockets or chain guide means 45, 46 at the lower end of the elevator frame 30. A second set of idler chains guides 47, 48 is provided on the respective side beams 38, 39. The guides 47, 48 are carried on arms 50 pivotally connected at 51 on bracket structures 52. The arms 50 are bifurcated at their connection to the respective guides 48 and receive links 53. The bracket structures 52 are provided with a series of arcuately spaced openings 54 and the links 53 may be connected to any of the respective openings to thereby position the respective chain guides 47, 48 vertically. The chains" 43, 44 are interconnected by rigid transverse flight elements 55.

Supported on the upper end of the elevator frame 30 is a are interconnected by edge plates 64, 65. The plates 64,

converge to an upper rear apex portion that has welded internally thereof a socket member 66 that opens upwardly and rearwardly toward the left outer end of the drive structure 60.

The beam 31 has adjacent its right end and just inwardly of the arm 33 a rigid rearwardly projecting channel structure composed of upper and lower plates 71, 72 respectively interconnected at their edges by structural plates 73, 74. The plates 73, 74 converge rearwardly and all of the plates 71-74 have welded thereto a cast socket member 75 with an internally machine-finished pivot opening or socket 76. The socket or pivot 76 extends upwardly and rearwardly and opens upwardly and rearwardly to the right outer end of the drive structure 60. The left end socket member 66 swivelly carries therein a support 77 for the left end of the structure 60. The right end pivot structure 75 carries therein a support 78 for supporting the right end of the drive structure 60. The right end pivot structure 75 carries therein a support 78 for supporting the right end of the drive structure 60.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the drive structure 60 is composed of a pairof transversely spaced drive sprockets 80, 81 that receive the upper ends of the chains 43, 44 respectively. The sprockets 80, 81 are rigidly interjoined by a torquetransmitting structure 82. The latter structure includes a transverse horizontal tubular section 83 that has an end adjacentthe sprocket and has fixed to that end a radial flange 84 lying inwardly of the sprocket 80 and bolted thereto at 85. The structure 82 further includes an enlarged portion or casing 86 that is round in cross section and is formed about the axis of rotation of the two sprockets 80, 81, it being understood that the sprockets 80, 81 are adapted to move about a common axis. The casing 86 has a right end extension 87 with a right end radial flange 88 lying inwardly of the right-hand sprocket 81 and bolted thereto at 89. A flywheel casing 90 is bolted at 91 to the left end of the enlarged portion or casing 86. The flywheel casing 90 is bolted at 92 to a radial plate 93 that is welded to and extends outwardly from the right end of the structural tube 83. A web 94 closes the left end of the flywheel casing 90.

Extending axially in respect to the axis of rotation of the sprockets 80, 81 is drive shaft means in the form of an elongated axially extending shaft 100. The shaft extends axially through the casings 86, 87 and into the flywheel casing 90. The shaft is journaled on its innermost end by a bearing 10] carried on a support 102 that is fixed to the casing 86. The outer end of the shaft 100 is carried on bearings 103 which in turn are carried on an axially extending support member 104 that projects from an axial inner end inwardly of the casing 86 to an outer end outwardly ofth'e sprocket 81. The support 104 has a lug portion 105 thereon that is pinned at 106 to a bifur cated end 107 of the support 78 that connects that end of the drive structure to the transverse beam 31. Journal means in the form of thrust bearings 108, 109 are carried internally of the casing extension 87 and permit rotation of the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 in respect to the supports 104,78. It should here be recognized that the supports 104,78 are held against rotation by the pin 106. A, snap ring 110 is provided on the inner end of the support 104 and a nut 11] is threadedly mounted on the support 104 externally of the bearings 108, 109. By tightening the nut 111 the bearings 108, 109 may be adjusted.

. Fixed to the support 104 by bolts 112 is a main power source in the form of a hydraulic motor 113. The motor 113 may be of any of many commercially sold. it has a drive shaft 114 extending in an axial alinement with the shaft 100. The shafts 100, 114 are coupled by a coupling ring 115. The hydraulic motor is controlled by a suitable control means adjacent the operator's station on the tractor l0 and fluid is introduced into the motor by flexible hoses 116 so that the motor and drive shaft maybe driven in either direction.

A flywheel 120 is supported to rotate with the inner end of the shaft 100. Adjacent that end of the shaft 100 and fixed thereto is a sun gear 121. The sun gear 121 is the initial drive connection to the entire speed-reducing drive means that is disposed in the casing 86. The speed-reducing drive means includes a pair of axially spaced planetary gear drives with the first gear drive including the sun gear 121 fixed to rotate with the shaft means 100, a ring gear 122 mounted on the casing 86, and planet gears 123 that have one gear section 124 engaging the sun gear 121 and a second gear section 125 engaging the ring gear 122. The ring gear 122 operates as a restriction against movement of the planet gear 123. A carrier 126 for the planet gears 123 is fixed at 127 to the sun gear 128 of the second planetary gear arrangement. A carrier 129 for planet gears 130 of the second planetary gear arrangement is held against movement by a splined joint 131 with the support 104. The ring gear 132 of the second planetary gear drive is fixed to the casing 86 and will cause rotation of that casing 86 upon rotation of the basic drive shaft 100. Rotation of the easing 86 will, of course, cause the ring gear 122 to rotate. However, the direction of rotation is such that it will cause the carrier 126 to reduce the rate of rotation of the sun gear 128. Consequently the two planetary gear arrangements will cause the entire casing 86, the torsion-transmitting structure 82, and the sprockets 80, 81 to rotate in unison.

Reviewing H6. 4 in its entirety, it should be noted that there are many joints between the casings 83, 86, 87 and between the flanges 84, 80 and 88,-81 that may create misalinement of the bearings at the end of the drive sprocket structure. The bearing arrangement on the right-hand end has been previously described. On the left-hand end there is provided a rigid plate 135 that is bolted by bolts 85 to the outer surface of the sprocket 80. Extending outwardly from the plate 135 is a bearing shaft 136 havinga reduced end 137 receiving a bearing 138 carried in a bearing housing 139. The housing 139 has a pair of axially extending lugs 140, 141 projecting outwardly from its surface. The support 77 is provided 7 As mentioned previously, due to the various joints in the torsion-transmitting structure 82, the bearings 138, 103, 101 could be slightly out of axial alinement. They could be slightly eccentric to one another. Should the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 be slightly out of axial alinement, unless the entire structure 60 is supported in a free or floating manner, there would be considerable stresses applied in the 7 structure 82. It is for this reason that the right-hand end of the structure is supported on pivot means that includes the pivot pin 106 and the pin portion 148 of the yoke 107 that fits into the socket 76. Reviewing FIG. 3, it becomes apparent that the entire structure 60 may swivel longitudinally of the frame 30 by slight movement about the pin 106. Similarly the structure 60 may swivel normal to the frame 30 by shifting about the socket joint 76, 148. By having support 77 loosely support the bearing housing 139, any misalinement of the axial structure 60 will becompensated for by the articulate connections in the supports at opposite ends of the structure 60. Thus, there will be no stress in the various parts of the torsion-transmitting structure 60 other than those created by the torque load created by the motor 113. lt should also be noted that the support adjacent the motor 113,'while articulate in nature, is nevertheless constructed of pivots that have close tolerances. Therefore, there will not be a jerky motion due to starting, stopping or reversing the direction of rotation of the motor. In other words, the end of the structure that supports the motor is firmly mounted on the frame 30. Thus, the entire torquetransmitting structure 60 is free to self-position itself if for any reason there is misalinement between one end and the other end of the structure.

lclaim:

1. In an elevator having a main frame and transversely spaced continuous chains played over rotary chain guides on the frame and transversely spaced flights interconnecting the chains, the improvement residing in: a rotary device including a plurality of axially alined drive sprockets receiving the chains and torsion structure extending between, connected to, and for driving the sprockets; supports at opposite ends of the device; journal means between the supports and device; drive means at one end of the device carried on the respective support at that end for driving said structure; an external pivotal mounting means at the one end between the frame and support for permitting self-positioning of the device; and means mounting the oppositesupport end on the frame, said means being adaptable to accommodate the self-positioning of the device about the pivotal mounting means.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the drive means is a motor having a housing rigid with its respective support, and the pivotal mounting means has included therewith a pivot joint offset from the sprocket axis and disposed in the aforesaid plane.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the pivotal mounting means is a rigid member pivotally connected at one end of on the frame to shift about a first axis and connected at its opposite end to the support to shift about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and in which both axes are perpen dicular to the axis of rotation of the structure.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 in which the means mounting the opposite end of the device is adaptable to accommodate limited articulate movement of the structure in respect to the first and second pivots.

5. In an elevator having a main frame and transversely spaced continuous chains played over rotary chain guides on the frame and transversely spaced flights interconnecting the chains, the improvement residing in: a plurality of axially alined drive sprockets for receiving the chains; torsion-transmitting structure extending between the sprockets; drive means supported on an end of and for driving said structure; an external pivotal mounting means including a pivot pin at right angle to the sprocket axis and at the one end for supporting the structure on the frame and for permitting self-positioning of the structure; and means mounting the opposite end on the frame; said means being adaptable to accommodate the self-positioning of the structure about the pivotal mounting means.

6. In an elevator having a main frame and transversely spaced continuous chains played over rotary chain guides on the frame and transversely spaced flights interconnecting the chains, the improvement residing in: a plurality of axially alined drive sprockets for receiving the chains; torsion structure extending between and for driving the sprockets; supports at opposite ends of the structure; means journaling the structure on the supports; and external pivotal mounting means between the frame and one of the respective bearing supports for permitting self-positioning of the structure with respect to the frame about an axis lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sprocket axis; and means mounting the opposite bearing support on the frame, said means being adaptable to accommodate the self-positioning of the structure about the pivotal mounting means. i i

8. The structure as set forth in claim 7 in which the pivotal mounting means is such as to permit shifting of the structure about axes in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the structure.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the structure has a hollow portion between the sprockets, the drive means includes a drive shaft that extends axially into the hollow portion and a drive connection between the shaft and hollow portion for driving the latter and the structure.

10. The structure asset forth in claim 6 in which the drive means is a motor and a driven shaft drivingly connected to the structure and the mounting means includes an arm fixedly attached to and supporting the structure and motor, the arm being pivotally connected to the frame in offset relation to the axis of rotation of the structure.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 10 in which the torsion-transmitting structure has a hollow portion between the sprockets, the shaft extends into the hollow portion, the mounting means further includes a journal support that is rigid with the arm and journals the shaft, and the shaft is drivingly connected to the hollow portion of the structure.

12. The structure as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by the journal support also journalizing the structure at the respective end. g

13. The structure asset forth in claim 11 in which the means mounting the opposite end is in part a journal for rotatably supporting the end and a support mounted on the frame for the journal that permits the journal to shift axially and to articulate in respect to the support. g

14. In an elevator having a main frame with an upper end, transversely spaced continuous chains interconnected by transverse flight elements, the improvement residing in drive sprocket structure extending transversely across the upper end of the elevator and composed of transversely spaced sprockets at the upper end for receiving the respective chains;

structure on the frame forming transversely spaced sockets opening toward the drive structure; and supports extending radially from the drive structure receivable in the respective sockets for supporting the drive structure on the frame.

15. The structure as set forth in claim 14 in which the structure forming the sockets is beneath the drive structure and the sockets open upwardly, the supports are slidable in the sockets open upwardly, the supports are slidable in the sockets and are retained in the sockets by the chains.

16. The structure as set forth in claim 15 in which the sprocket structure has transversely spaced ends, the supports .are on the ends, and the sockets open to the ends, and

whereby the support at one of the ends is connected thereto by a pivot lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sprockets.

17. In an elevator having a main frame with an upper end, transversely spaced continuous chains interconnected by transverse flight elements, the improvement residing in drive sprocket structure extending transversely across the upper end of the elevator and composed of transversely spaced sprockets at the upper end for receiving the respective chains; transversely spaced supports extending radially from the drive structure; and a vertically extending socket connection means between the upper end of the elevator frame and at least one of the supports for retaining the drive structure on the frame, the socket connection means being adaptable to permit shifting of the structure toward or away from the upper end.

18. The structure as setforth in claim 17in which the socket connection means to said one of the supports includes a combination of socket and pin connection between the frame and support lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation.

19. The structure as set forth in claim 18 in which said one of the supports is connected to the respective end of the drive structure by a pivot at right angles to the socket and pin connection but in the same plane. Y

20. The structure as set forth in claim 19 in which the other of the supports permits shifting of its respective end of the structure so as to permit self-positioning of the entire trans verse structure.

21. The structure as set forth in claim 17 characterized by the end of the structure having said one of the supports has rigid therewith a motor for driving the drive sprocket structure, and said socket connection means retains the housing of said motor against rotation.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,5 8,915 Dated 1 December 1970 Inventor(s) Ronald P. GrossKlaus It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 2 cancel 0:15"; line 61, before the claim 8, insert the following claim:

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the pivotal mounting means is offset from the axis of the struc ture to permit axial self-positioning of the structure.

Column 6, line 1 change "journalizing" to --journaling --5 line 3H, cancel open upwardly, the supports are slidable in the socKets".

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J1 Attesting Officer Comissioner of Patent:

1 FORM PC4050 (10-69) ner-nuu-nr Ann-n

Images