US2326338A - Material handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1943. E. A. DROTT ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1940 INVENTOR5 W 1% Km ATTORNEY 1943- E. A. DROTT ETAL 2,326,338

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed D80. 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 91am: a. 3m" W ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1943. E, A, DROTT ET AL v MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 30. 1940 73 INVENTORS FIG. 9.

a; QFHMA ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1943. E DROTT T AL 2,326,338

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS a 63 g QJK w 44 a H /m/ e4 I I 45 INVENTORS 5 a. Dam FIG. I4. 42 A W W 1:; 2: fl": BY

. l ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1943 i LING APPARATUS Edward A. Drott and Joseph H. Kerber, Milwaukee, Wia, assignors to Hi-Way Service $01"- poration, Milwaukee, Wis... a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 30,1940, Serial No. 372,322

(on. s r-11a) 7 Claims.

The invention relates to material handling apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to pro-- vide a heavy duty material handling apparatus having a wide. variety of uses in the excavating and moving of earth or other bulky material and in the carrying and handling of logs, stones, and other objects and materials. According to the present invention, we have combined with a structure which acts as a plow, preferably, though not necessarily, of the type used as a bulldozer, back filler, or snow plow, a movable gripper member which preferably has the form of an open ended scoop cooperating with the plow to form a bucket which through the vertical movement of the pusher is raised to transport its load and which may discharge its load in either a raised or lowered position.

The present apparatus may be used for the excavating of earth, snow, and other material by placing the bulldozer or snow-plowing blade in a digging position and moving the scoop member to a partially open position whereby on the forward movement of the apparatus the earth picked up by the blade will be turned into the scoop member until finally the bucket structure formed by the blade and scoop member will become full of earth, and then the scoop member may be moved to a closed position and the whole structure raised to transport the load to a place of deposit. When using the device for picking up refuse, the device may be moved to a position where it may be lowered onto a portion of the refuse with the scoop member in an open position and then by moving the device through part of the refuse and closing the scoop member the charge acquired by the apparatus during these operations can be moved to the desired location. In using this device for the handling of large stoneswith the scoop in araised position, the apparatus is moved to bring the bulldozer portion adjacent the one side of the stone to be removed, and then the movable scoop member or gripper member is moved to a position to engage the opposite side of the stone whereupon the whole structure may be moved to an elevated position to transport the stone to a place of deposit. In using this device for the handling of timber either in lumber yards or in the woods during cutting and lumbering operations the device may be moved to a position to engage one side of the piece of timber or log while the gripper member is in an elevated position, and then the gripper member may be lowered to engage the other side of the timber or log and then the whole plow structure raised so as to carry or move the timber or log to the desired location.

In connection with the gripping and carrying of various types of material by the structure embodying the invention, it is to be noted that the carrying arms for the plow structure are capable of independent raising or lowering movement, so that articles such as a piece of timber, while in a raised position, may be tilted vertically so as to bring one end or the other into a raised position which in some instances aids in loading the timber or logs onto a pile.

In addition to the above uses, the device may also be used for tamping down earth when the scoop member is in a lowered or closed position and is raised and lowered with the bulldozer so as to bring its lower face into contact with the earth and act to tamp the same. I

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an apparatus Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional View of the ends of one of the raising arms;

Fig. 7 is a generally diagrammatic view showing the apparatus in the position in which it acts as a remover of earth or other bulky material;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the apparatus in load carrying position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the apparatus in the position for receiving a piece of timber or other bulky object;

Fig. 10 is a detailed side elevation view showing certain modifications in the scoop member operating mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 10, parts being broken away;

Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line |2--l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a'detailed sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic front end view showing the vertical tiltability of the structure embodying the invention.

driver of the tractor from his seat 20, these controls not being specifically shown. The tread frames 8 include frame members to which pivotforming brackets 2| are secured, said brackets having ball shaped pivot ends 22 upon which the side frame members 23 of the plow supporting frame are pivotally mounted. This supporting frame further includes angular frame members 24 which may be adjustable lengthwise relative to the members 23, said members 23 and 24 adapted to be connected at their outer ends to a pusher blade or other implement member 25 by pin joints consisting of elongated or oval slots 26 in the frame members adapted to receive a coupling pin 21 which pin also passes through spaced ears 28 provided on a transversely extending frame part 25'. The slots 26 allow the pins 21 sufiicient play so as to permit the raising or lowering of one end of the implement member 25 relative to the other. The frame members 23 and 24 are detachably secured to each other through removable pin connections 29. The slots for these pins may also be loose in a transverse direction to accommodate the individual tilting of the frame members. Angular brackets 30 generally similar to those shown and described in the prior issued Patent No. 2,190,452, dated February 13, 1940, are rigidly secured to the truck frame.

and U-shaped lever members 3| straddle the front ends of the truck frames l8 and are pivotally connected to each set of brackets by pivot bolts 32. The 'side frame members 23 preferably carry plates 33 which cooperate with similar 1 plates 34 on the brackets 38 to keep the sides of the supporting frame in proper alignment. Each member 3| is operatively connected by a link 35 with a part of the side frame, particularly the front end of the part 24. Each of the supporting frames are independently operable through a hydraulically operated means including a hydraulically operated cylinder 36 pivotally connected at its rear end upon a pivot 31 secured to the frame of the tractor and having a piston working in said cylinder with its rod 38 operatively connected to the lever 3| by a pivot pin 39. It will be noted that the lever 3| is composed of several pieces welded or otherwise suitably secured together to form a triangular frame fulcrumed at 32 and operatively connected at its ends to the rod and at its rear end to the power means here shown as the hydraulically operated cylinder 36. Each of the cylinders 36 is adapted to be supplied through pipe connections 40 with fluid from a suitable source of pressure supply and under the action of a suitable control valve 4| located in a position for operation by th operator from his seat 20 in the vehicle.

With the above construction, movement of the rod 38 toward the left swings the lever 3| upwardly, and this through the link 35 acts to swing the arm formed by one set of frame members 23, 24 upwardly and thus lift that end of the pusher blade to which said frame members are connected. The arm for the other end of the pusher blade is similarly moved by a similar hydraulically operated rod 38' on the other side of the vehicle. Thus since each of the ends of the pusher blade or implement member 25 is independently adjustable, the vertical angularlty of this member may be adjusted to suit the rethat introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure through one of the pipes 48 to the rear end of the cylinder acts to push the rod 38 forwardly and acts through the lever 3| and link 35 to put a positive downward pressure on the arm 23 and consequently the blade 25.

Upon the plow or bulldozer structure thus far described we mount a gripper member 42 which in the embodiment shown is in the form of an open ended scoop member having a curved bottom 43 coextensive in length with the length of the blade 25 and side plate portions 44 forming jaws adapted to cooperate with jaws removably secured to the plow structure and formed by side plates 45 bolted to angles 46 which are removably secured by bolts 41 to the face of the moldboard portion 48 of the pusher implement. The jaw forming plates 44 and 45 are also preferably provided with gripping teeth 49 to enable them to get a good grip on logs, timbers, and the like. The scoop and gripper member is pivotally connected at each of the upper ends of the side plate portions 44 by a pin 50 carried in a frame bracket 5| secured to or formed integral with the moldboard 48.

Power operated means are provided for moving the gripper or scoop member into its various operating positions. In Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, this means comprises a double acting hydraulic actuator including a cylinder 52- pivotally connected at its lower end by a pin 53 to ears formed on the moldboard 48 and having the rod 54 of its actuating piston pivotally connected by a pin 55 to the intermediate part of a lever 56 which is fulcrumed on a pin 51 carried by a bracket 58 secured to the back of the moldboard 48 and operatively connected at its outer end by a link 59 and pins 60 and 6| to the side portions 44 of the scoop member. Opposite ends of the cylinder 52 are supplied with hydraulic fluid through flexiblehose connections (not shown) connected with the same pump as that for the cylinders 36 and controlled by suitable valve mechanism under the control of the operator through the lever 6|. With this construction the reciprocation of the rod 54 under the action of hydraulic fluid will act to oscillate the lever 56 and consequently swing the gripper and scoop 42 to an open or closed position as desired, or through control.

its various operating positions comprises a double acting hydraulic actuator at each side thereof and including a cylinder 62 which in this instance is adjustably mounted on a bracket means in the form of a link 63 pivotally connected at its upper end by a pin 64 to the moldboard 48 and its lower end by a pin 65 which for one side is mounted for a certain amount of movement in a longitudinally slotted bracket 66 secured to or forming pant of the side arm 23. A bracket 61 is sli-dably'mounted on the link 63 and secured in any desired adjusted position thereon by set A and the member 82.

asaasss screws 68 and carries the supporting pivot pin 89 for the rear end of the cylinder 62. The rod for the actuating piston thatworks in the cylinder 62 is pivotally connected at its outer end by a pin H to a bracket arm 12 secured to the zizde portion 66 of the scoop or gripper member With this last described construction the reciprocation of the rod 10 under the action of hydraulic fluid will act directly on the member 42 to swing it to any desired angular position and through the control of the pressure fluid in both sides of the hydraulically operated piston, the rod 70 and member 42 may be held in any desired fixed position. This form of gripper and Scoop moving means is preferred as it allows the hydraulic fluid to act on the front face of the actuating piston while moving the rod lid to a position in which the scoop member 62 is closed, thereby securing the full force of the hydraulic fluid so as to get a powerful gripping action between the jaws of the gripper member. It eliminates the necessity for the lever 56 of the first described form and permits the stroke of the rod 10 through the adjustment of the bracket 6'! along the link 53 to be varied to suit different working requirements. The slotted bracket 6% compensates or provides for relative movement between the support 63 for the cylinder 62 and the tiltable frame or arm 23 with which it is connected so as to allow independent tilting movement of each arm 23,v so that the scoop member d2 may be tilted vertically as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14.

The bulldozer structure is also preferably provided adjacent its ends with shoes or runners '73 carried by the forward end portion of each frame member 23 and acting to limit the maximum depth to which the pusher blade 25 can be lowered. Since the controls for the cylinders 52 or 62 are separate from the cylinders 36, the gripper or scoop member 32 may be opened or closed in any position of the lifting frame or arms 23.

For using this apparatus as an excavator of earth, sand, gravel, and the like the bulldozeror pusher member 25 is lowered to a digging position as shown in Fig. 7, and the scoop member d2 is moved to a partially closed position either as shown in Fig. 7 or in some instances to a more fully closed position, so that a slot extending lengthwise of the member 25 is left between it With the parts thus positioned the forward movement of the propelling vehicle causes the member 25 to slice off a layer of the material being operated upon, and this between said scoop-and plow with the material to be moved, or instead of plowing into the refuse material, the plow with the scoop in an open position may be raised above the material to be removed, and then as the plow and scoop are lowered through the material, the scoop member may be swung to closed position, to enclose the load after which it may be discharged as previously described.

When using the apparatus for removing large stones or other bulky objects, the vehicle is moved so as to bring the plow element 25 against one face of the object with the scoop member in a raised position, and then the scoop is swung down to a position in which the stone or other bulky object is tightlygripped between or in the parts 25 and 62, and then the arms 23 may be raised and the vehicle then moved to bring the stone or other bulky object to a place of deposit. Under such conditions it will be noted that the func tion of the member 42 is largely that of a gripper member.

When using the apparatus for handling logs and timbers, the vehicle is driven to .a position to bring the plow member 25 lengthwise of the log or timber while the gripper 42 is raised, and then the gripper member 42 is swung downwardly until the object being operated upon is tightly gripped between the teeth 59 of the jaws formed by the parts 55 and 44 of the members 25 and d2, respectively, as shown in Fig. 9, and then the members 25 and 52 in gripping or load carrying position may be raised by the upward swinging movement of the arms 23, so that the timber or log may be raised and carried by the vehicle to a place of deposit.

In connection with the handling of the various types of material as above described, it is also to be noted that since the arms-23 are adapted to be independently raised and lowered, the plow member 25 and its cooperative member 62 may be shifted to positions of various vertical inclinalayer moves up along the curved face of the moldboard 48 and is thereby turned over and cascades or rolls into the scoop member 512, thus gradually filling up the space between the members 25 and 32. When this space is filled, the scoop member $2 is moved to a fully closed position. and the bucketful of excavated material may then be transported to any desired place of dis charge by swinging the arms 23 upwardly while keeping the scoop member d2 closed until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 8. When the place of deposit is reached, the load may be discharged by moving the scoop member 42 to the open position shown in dotted lines. This same general method of procedure may be used in removing refuse bulk material from above the surface of the material by plowing into a body of such material with'the scoop in open position and then closing the scoop while filling the space tions, as shown in Fig. 14. This feature is of especial advantage where the device is used on logs or timbers, and it is desirable to raise one end of the log or timber higher than the other for stacking purposes or to clear obstructions.

It is also to be noted that the back end of the frame of the tractor i5 is suitably counterweighted so as to counteract the weight of the projecting parts including the members 25 and Q2 and that the front edge of the bottom id is reinforced by a blade member dd whose front edge forms a lengthwise extending cutting edge.

- The, front edge of the plow blade 25 is also a cutting edge. It is further noted that while the apparatus is shown as mounted on a track-laying tractor, it may also be fitted to other vehicles such as motor trucks, trailers, etc., and that the device may be mounted for operation at the rear instead of the front of its carrier vehicle.

For using the device as a tamper, the bottom M of the scoop member will on being raised and then loweredagainst the material act to tamp the same, this tamping action being assisted by either a load in the bucket 52 or the downward pressure produced by the pressure fluid in the cylinder 35 acting on the front face of the ram or piston having the rod 38 connected to the lever 3 l.

We desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the appended claims.

. What we claim as our invention is:

1. The combination with a vehicle, of a pair of pusher arms swingingly mounted on said ye hicle and a pusher having a curved moldboard portion extending between said pusher arms and carried thereby, and a scoop member pivotally connected to the upper portion 'of said moldboard and provided with a bottom portion projecting in front of said moldboard during digging. 2. The combination with a vehicle, of a pair of independently swingable pusher arms mounted on said vehicle and a pusher having a moldboard portion xtending between said pusher arms and carried thereby, a scoop member pivotally connected to the upper portion of said moldboard and provided with a bottom portion projecting 'in front of said moldboard during digging, and

hydraulically operated means carried by said arms and for moving and holding said scoop member in open or closed position relative to said pusher.

3. In a. material handling apparatus, the combination with a vehicle, of a pusherstructure vertically adjustably mounted on said vehicle and having a blade extending transversely thereof, a gripper member pivotally mounted on said pusher structure and extending transversely of the vehicle, said blade and gripper member having cooperative jaw portions at th end portions of said pusher.

4. In a material handling apparatus, the combination of a pair of swinging arms adapted for connection to a vehicle, a blade secured to said arms, means for independently raising and lowering said arms to adjust the angle of said blade in a vertical plane, a scoop member pivotally mounted on the upper portion of said blade, hydraulically operated means for operating said scoop including a cylinder and a piston operating in said cylinder and connected to said scoop, and a support for said cylinder having a lost motion connection with one of said arms.

nected to one of said arms and to which said cy1-' inder is lengthwise adjustably connected.

6. In a material handling apparatus, the com-' bination with a vehicle, of a bulldozer member adapted to work at one end of the vehicle by movement into the material to be excavated, arms pivotally connected to the vehicle and carrying said member in front of this end of the vehicle, means for independently raising and lowering said member to adjust the angle of said member in a vertical plane to regulate the depth of cut of said bulldozer member, and a scoop member movably mounted on said member and adapted to receive material plowed up by said bulldozer member and adjustable therewith in a vertical plane to a material carrying position.-

7. In a material handling apparatus for vehicles, the combination with a bulldozer including a blade support and a blade adapted to project in front of one end of its supporting vehicle with its cutting edge projecting wholly in front of, said support, said support being movably mounted on the vehicle, of a movable scoop member pivotally mounted on the bulldozer and projecting in front of said blade and adapted to be filled with material by the deflecting action of said blade, and means for raising and lowering said support to bodily raise said blade and said scoop member.

EDWARD A. DROTT. JOSEPH H. KERBER.

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