EARTH-MOVING MACHINES FOR SUBGRADING HIGHWAYS
United States Patent 3628264
Earth-moving machine embodying a trusswork for spanning highways, and the like, with an earth-handling unit movable back and forth along the trusswork for simultaneously loosening, picking up and discharging off from the highway subgrade material.
US Patent References:
Apparatus for reclaiming particulate material
McMillan - February 1967 - 3306476
Device for picking up and unloading pourable material
Pfeilschifter - January 1967 - 3298494
Side delivery rotary excavator
Fogelberg - July 1962 - 3043035
Road-surfacing machine
Moore et al. - February 1924 - 1482904
Road machine
De Camp - January 1922 - 1402148
Apparatus for reclaiming particulate material
McMillan - February 1967 - 3306476
Device for picking up and unloading pourable material
Pfeilschifter - January 1967 - 3298494
Side delivery rotary excavator
Fogelberg - July 1962 - 3043035
Road-surfacing machine
Moore et al. - February 1924 - 1482904
Road machine
De Camp - January 1922 - 1402148
Application Number:
04/865674
Publication Date:
12/21/1971
Filing Date:
10/13/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
K & R Industries Inc. (Canton, SD)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
37/190
International Classes:
E02F3/76; E02F5/00
Field of Search:
37/108,190,112 94/45 198/36,9 214/10
US Patent References:
| 1633426 | Road grader | June 1927 | Walworth | |
| 1904948 | Mechanical fine grader | April 1933 | Maxon, Jr. et al. | |
| 2114434 | Road working machine | April 1938 | Spencer | |
| 3368466 | Longitudinal strike-off and finishing screed for concrete | February 1968 | Rowe | |
| 3444984 | APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BULK MATERIAL FROM A STOCKPILE | May 1969 | Degenhardt et al. | |
| 3500563 | WHEEL-TYPE TOP LOADING MACHINE AND METHOD | March 1970 | Smith |
Primary Examiner:
Pulfrey, Robert E.
Assistant Examiner:
Crowder, Clifford D.
Claims:
I claim
1. An earth-moving machine comprising
2. annular means
3. '. for rotation around said axis, and
4. '. with said axis being disposed transverse to the length of said trusswork in position to be disposed in substantially aligned relation to the length of such a surface, and
5. elongated blades extending around the periphery of said annular means in a path extending along said axis in radially outwardly spaced relation thereto, for picking up subgrade material from such a surface during rotation of said annular means around said axis.
6. An earth-moving machine as defined in claim 1, and in which
7. an elongated conveyor disposed in and extending outwardly from said pickup means for discharging outwardly of said pickup means subgrade material picked up by said pickup means, and
8. another elongated conveyor mounted on said trusswork and extending longitudinally therealong to a position disposed outwardly to an end of said trusswork in position to
9. An earth-moving machine as defined in claim 2, and in which
10. a drum rotatably mounted on said carriage, and
11. cutters projecting from the periphery of said drum in position to engage such subgrade material, and
12. mounted on said carriage in axial alignment with each other, and
13. are simultaneously rotatable relative to said carriage.
14. An earth-moving machine as defined in claim 3, and in which
15. on said carriage for driving said first mentioned conveyor, said drum and said annular means, and
16. on said trusswork for driving said second mentioned conveyor.
17. An earth-moving machine comprising
18. An earth-moving machine comprising
1. An earth-moving machine comprising
2. annular means
3. '. for rotation around said axis, and
4. '. with said axis being disposed transverse to the length of said trusswork in position to be disposed in substantially aligned relation to the length of such a surface, and
5. elongated blades extending around the periphery of said annular means in a path extending along said axis in radially outwardly spaced relation thereto, for picking up subgrade material from such a surface during rotation of said annular means around said axis.
6. An earth-moving machine as defined in claim 1, and in which
7. an elongated conveyor disposed in and extending outwardly from said pickup means for discharging outwardly of said pickup means subgrade material picked up by said pickup means, and
8. another elongated conveyor mounted on said trusswork and extending longitudinally therealong to a position disposed outwardly to an end of said trusswork in position to
9. An earth-moving machine as defined in claim 2, and in which
10. a drum rotatably mounted on said carriage, and
11. cutters projecting from the periphery of said drum in position to engage such subgrade material, and
12. mounted on said carriage in axial alignment with each other, and
13. are simultaneously rotatable relative to said carriage.
14. An earth-moving machine as defined in claim 3, and in which
15. on said carriage for driving said first mentioned conveyor, said drum and said annular means, and
16. on said trusswork for driving said second mentioned conveyor.
17. An earth-moving machine comprising
18. An earth-moving machine comprising
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to earth-moving machines and, more particularly, to machines which are particularly well adapted for subgrading operations, and the like.
It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel earth-moving machine.
Another object is to afford a novel subgrading machine.
Machines for use in subgrading operations, and the like, have been heretofore known in the art. However, such machines that have been heretofore known have commonly had several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, being large and cumbersome in size; being complicated in construction; being difficult and complicated to operate; not being capable of accurately affording a uniform level to a surface being subgraded, when such was desired; not being capable of accurately and uniformly affording a predetermined slope or a predetermined crown to a surface being subgraded, when such were desired; or not being efficient and reliable in operation, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.
Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which is particularly well adapted for subgrading operations in the construction of highways, and the like.
Another object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which is operable in a novel and expeditious manner to remove subgrade material to a predetermined level.
Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel earth-moving machine wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged that the slope and contour of a surface being subgraded thereby may be selectively controlled in a novel and expeditious manner.
A further object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged that the dirt or other subgrade material to be removed by the machine in a subgrading operation is loosened, picked up and transported away in a novel and expeditious manner.
Another object is to afford a novel digging unit for an earth-moving machine for loosening subgrade material.
Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel pickup unit for an earth-moving machine for picking up subgrade material.
Yet another object is to afford a novel discharge unit for an earth-moving machine for discharging or transferring away subgrade material.
A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which embodies a digger unit, a pickup unit and a discharge unit constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner for effective concurrent operation.
Another object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine for use in subgrading operations on highways, and the like, which is so constructed that it can span a highway and be moved longitudinally therealong to simultaneously loosen, pick up and discharge off from the highway subgrade material throughout the width of the highway.
Another object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.
Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompany drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings
FIG. 1 is a cross section of a roadway showing an earth-moving machine, embodying the principles of the present invention, in side elevation and disposed in operative position over the roadway;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pickup unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, detail elevational view taken substantially along the line 6--6 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 7--7 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of pickup unit for use in the earth-moving machine shown in FIGS. 1-7; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 9--9 in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS SHOWN HEREIN
An earth-moving machine 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. The machine 1 is shown in FIG. 1 disposed in operative position over a roadway 2 in position to remove the subgrade 3 so as to lower the level of the roadway 2 from the level 4 of the surrounding terrain to the desired level 5.
The machine 1, shown in the drawings, includes an elongated frame or trusswork 6 which is adapted to longitudinally extend transversely of the roadway 2 being subgraded, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the roadway in a direction transverse to the length of the trusswork by any suitable means, either mechanically or by hand. The trusswork 6, preferably, is of the same type as that shown in the S. P. Bidwell U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,361, issued Sept. 28, 1965, and is described in greater detail herein.
The earth-moving machine 1, shown in the drawings, also embodies, in general, a carriage 7 having an earth-handling unit 8 mounted thereon in depending relation thereto, with the carriage 7 being reciprocable longitudinally of the trusswork 6 to thereby carry the earth-handling unit 8 back and forth, transversely across the roadway 2.
The earth-handling unit 8, FIG. 2, embodies, in general, a digging unit or ripper 9, a pickup unit 10 and a discharge unit, embodying two elongated discharge members in the form of belt conveyors 11 and 12. The digging unit 9 is operable to tear or loosen subgrade material; the pickup unit 10 is operable to pick up such loosened material; and the discharge unit 11-12 is operable to discharge the picked up material outwardly of the machine 1 and the roadway 2, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
In the arrangement of the machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, vertical supports 13 are positioned on opposite sides of the roadway 2 and extend lengthwise thereof, the upper edges of the supports 13 being adapted to receive rollers 14 on the trusswork 6 to enable the trusswork 6 to be moved along the supports 13.
The carriage 7, FIGS. 1 and 2, includes two horizontally extending, horizontally spaced, substantially parallel outer side rails 15 and 16, and two end plates 17 and 18 extending between and mounted on respective opposite ends of the side rails 15 and 16. Each of the end plates 17 and 18 has two outwardly projecting, horizontally spaced upper rollers 19 mounted on respective opposite ends thereof. The rollers 19 are so disposed on the end plates 17 and 18 that, when the earth-moving machine 1 is in completely assembled form, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rollers 19 on the end plates 17 and 18 are disposed in position to be supported by, and ride along, the tops of side rails 20 and 21 disposed on opposite sides of the trusswork 6, to thereby support the carriage 7 for movement longitudinally of the trusswork 6.
Each of the end plates 17 and 18 on the carriage 7 also has two outwardly projecting holddown rollers 22 disposed below respective ones of the upper rollers 19 in vertically spaced relation thereto. The rollers 22 are so disposed on the end plates 17 and 18 that when the carriage 7 is supported on the side rails 20 and 21 of the trusswork 6 by the rollers 19, in the aforementioned manner, the rollers 22 on the end plates 17 and 18 are disposed in abutting engagement with the lower faces of the side rails 20 and 21 in position to hold the rollers 19 downwardly against the side rails 20 and 21.
The earth-handling unit 8 embodies an elongated auxiliary carriage 23, which is substantially rectangular in shape, and embodies two elongated, substantially parallel side rails 24 and 25. Two end rails 26 and 27 extend between and are mounted on respective opposite ends of the side rails 24 and 25 in substantially parallel relation to each other. Two cross braces 28 and 29 extend between the two side rails 24 and 25 in parallel spaced relation to each other and to the end rails 26 and 27.
Two supporting frames 31 and 32 are adjustably mounted on and supported by the cross brace 29 and end rail 27, respectively, FIG. 2. The supporting frames 31 and 32 are identical in construction, and, as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the supporting frame 32, they are substantially square in shape, and each embodies horizontally extending upper and lower rails 33 and 34 disposed in parallel relation to each other, and two vertically extending, substantially parallel side rails 35 and 36 extending between and mounted on respective ends of the rails 33 and 34. Two rollers 37 and 38 are mounted on and suspended from the lower face of the upper rail 33 of each of the supporting frames 31 and 32 by suitable mounts 39 and 40, respectively, and, similarly, two rollers 41 and 42 are mounted on the upper face of the lower rail 34 of each of the supporting frames 31 and 32 by suitable mounts 43 and 44, as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the supporting frame 32. The rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on each of the supporting frames 31 and 32 project inwardly therefrom toward the other of the supporting frames 32 and 31, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to the roller 38, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.
The supporting frames 31 and 32 are adjustably supported from the auxiliary frame 23 for vertical movement upwardly and downwardly therefrom by two elongated plates 45 and 46 mounted on and projecting from each of the top rails 33, and slidably mounted in channel members 47 and 48, respectively, mounted on the cross brace 29 and the end rail 30, respectively. A hole 49 is formed in each of the channel members 47 and 48 in alignment with a corresponding hole 50 formed in the respective portion of the cross brace 29 or the end rail 27 on which the channel member 47 or 48 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 7. Two openings 51 and 52 are formed in each of the plates 45 and 46, in vertically spaced relation to each other, FIG. 7, the openings 51 and 52 being of the same diameter as the openings 49 and 50, and being sized to receive a pin 53 therein when they are disposed in alignment with the openings 49 and 50, the pins 53, in such instance, extending through the openings 49 and 40 and through whichever one of the openings 51 and 52 are disposed in alignment with the respective pairs of openings 49 and 50. It will be seen that, with this arrangement, the supporting frames 31 and 32 may be selectively supported in lowered position, when the pins 53 are disposed through the upper openings 51, and in raised position, when the pins 53 are disposed through the lower openings 52 in the plates 45 and 46. Such vertical adjustment of the supporting frames 31 and 32 relative to the auxiliary frame 23 is desired for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.
Movement of the supporting frames 31 and 32 upwardly and downwardly relative to the auxiliary frame 23 may be effected by any suitable mechanism, such as, for example, handwheels 54, each having a threaded shank 55 threaded into the cross brace 29 and the end rail 30, respectively, with the lower ends of the shanks 55 rotatably secured to the top rails 33 of the corresponding supporting frames 31 and 32, as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the supporting frame 32. With this construction, when it is desired to raise or lower the supporting frames 31 and 32, the pins 53 may be removed therefrom, and the handwheels 54 may be rotated to thereby cause the desired vertical movement of the plates 45 and 46 relative to the brackets 47 and 48, respectively. When the supporting frames 31 and 32 have been raised or lowered to the proper position to dispose the openings 52 or 51, respectively, in alignment with the corresponding openings 49 and 50, the pins 53 may be reinserted into operative position with the aligned openings so that the supporting frames 31 and 32 are supported by the respective pairs of pins 53, together with the handwheel mechanisms 54-55.
The supporting frames 31 and 32 form an integral part of the pickup unit 10, and are disposed at respective opposite ends thereof. The pickup unit 10 also includes an elongated rotary unit 54 which extends between the supporting frames 31 and 32 and is rotatably supported by the rollers 37, 38 41 and 42 thereon, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
The rotary unit 54 includes two circular shaped end rings or annular members 55 and 56, and three intermediate rings 57, 58 and 59 disposed in parallel, axially aligned, spaced relation to each other and to the end rings 55 and 56, FIGS. 2 and 4. All of the rings 55-59 have the same outside diameter. The rings 55 and 56 are identical in construction, each embodying a large annular portion 60 from which a smaller annular end portion 61 projects. The rings 57-59 are also all identical in construction, preferably being of uniform cross-sectional size at all portions thereof.
In the rotary unit 54, the end rings 55 and 56 are disposed at the respective opposite ends thereof, with the end portions 61 projecting axially outwardly from the body portions 60, FIG. 4. A plurality of elongated blades 62 are secured to and extend between the peripheries of the body portions 60 of the end rings 55 and 56, FIGS. 2 and 4. Each of the blades 62 have two arms 63 and 64 disposed at an angle to each other. The arms 63 extend from the periphery of the body portion 60 of the end ring 55 across the outer peripheral face of the adjacent intermediate ring 57 to the outer peripheral face of the centrally disposed intermediate ring 58, the arms 63 being secured to these faces of the rings 55, 57 and 58 by suitable means, such as, welding. The arm 64 of each blade 62 extends from the outer peripheral surface of the body portion 60 of the end ring 56 across the outer peripheral surface of the adjacent intermediate ring 59 to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate ring 58, and terminates at its inner end in abutting relation to the corresponding inner end of the arm 63 of that blade 62, the arm 64 of each blade 62 being secured to the aforementioned outer peripheral faces of the rings 56, 58 and 59, respectively. Preferably, the arms 63 and 64 of each of the blades 62 are equal in length, and extend from the end rings 55 and 46, respectively, to the intermediate ring 58 along the shortest, smooth arcuate path across the intermediate rings 57 and 49, respectively. The rings 55-59 and the blades 62 may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, steel, and, preferably, the blades are equally spaced around the rings 55-59 with the points defined by the engagement of the arms 63 and 64 thereof pointing in the same direction around the circumference of the rotary unit 54. Thus, it will be seen that the rotary unit 54 comprises a plurality of parallel, axially aligned spaced rings 55-59 having blades 62 disposed in a serpentine, substantially V-shaped path on the outer periphery thereof.
Each of the blades 62 is substantially T-shaped in transverse cross section, FIG. 3, having a head portion 65 mounted on and supported by a body portion 66 in outwardly spaced relation to the outer peripheries of the rings 55-59. The longitudinal edges of the head portions 65 are tapered to a sharp edge to afford cutting edges 67 for cutting into the dirt or other subgrade material to be picked up by the pickup unit 10, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
Two other supporting frames 68 and 69, FIG. 2, are supported from the auxiliary frame 23, and form the end members of the digging unit 9. The supporting frames 68 and 69 are identical to each other in construction. They are also identical in construction to the supporting frames 31 and 32 except that the side rails 35 and 36 thereof extend upwardly above the top rails 33 and are secured to the lower faces of the side rails 24 and 25 by suitable means, such as, welding, to thereby support the supporting frames 68 and 69 in fixed, downwardly spaced, suspended position relative to the auxiliary frame 23. Each of the supporting frames 68 and 69 have rollers and mounts therefor constructed and arranged thereon in the same manner as the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 and the mounts 39, 40, 41 and 42 therefor on the supporting frames 31 and 32. These rollers on the supporting frames 68 and 69 in the machine 1 rotatably support a substantially cylindrical shaped drum 70 of the digging unit 9, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
A plurality of elongated ripper points or cutters 71 are mounted on the periphery of the drum 70 in longitudinally outwardly projecting relation thereto, FIG. 2. The ripper points 71 are disposed around the periphery of the drum 70 in substantially equally spaced, helical paths, and afford means for tearing up and loosening the subgrade material to be removed during operation of the machine 1. The ripper points may be of any suitable construction, but, preferably, they are substantially T-shaped in construction embodying flat heads 72 mounted on elongated shanks 73, with the heads being substantially diamond shape in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the respective shafts 73. Preferably, the heads 72 are of reduced thickness at their outer peripheral edges to thereby afford cutting edges for assisting in cutting into and tearing up the ground during operation of the machine 1.
Each of the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 mounted on the supporting frames 31, 32, 68 and 69 has a main body portion 74 at one end thereof, and an enlarged portion, affording a radially outwardly projecting flange 75, at the other end thereof, as shown in FIG. 5 with respect to the roller 38.
The rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on the supporting frames 31 and 32 are preferably equally spaced from each other, around the square which they define, and they are disposed in such position that when the rotary unit 54 is disposed in operative position in the machine 1, the outer edges of the ends 61 of the end rings 55 and 56 of the rotary unit 54 are journaled in the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on the supporting frames 31 and 32, respectively, with the outer peripheries of the ring ends 61 and 62 riding on the outer peripheries of the body portions 74 of the respective group of rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 in which they are journaled, and with the flanges 75 on those rollers disposed in abutting engagement with the adjacent end face of the respective ring ends 61, as shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the roller 38 on the supporting frame 32, which is disposed in engagement with the end ring 56. It will be seen that, with this construction, the rotary unit 54 is rotatably mounted in the supporting frames 31 and 32 for rotation around its longitudinal axis, and is held by the flanges 75 disposed in abutting engagement with the respective opposite ends thereof, from axial movement relative to the auxiliary frame 23.
A sprocket wheel 76 is mounted on the end portion 61 of the end ring 56 and is secured thereto by suitable means, such as, welding, between the body portion 60 of the ring 56 and the adjacent rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42. A suitable drive mechanism, such as a motor 77, is mounted on the auxiliary frame 23 above the rotary unit 54. The motor 77 has another sprocket wheel 78 mounted on the drive shaft 79 thereof, and the sprocket wheel 78 is operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 76 by a chain 79 so that, during operation of the machine 1, operation of the motor 77 is effective to drive the sprocket wheel 76 and thereby rotate the rotary unit 54 around its longitudinal axis.
The drum 70 of the digging unit 9, like the end rings 55 and 56 of the pickup unit 10, embodies two annular end portions 80 and 81 projecting outwardly from the main body portion 82 thereof. The end portions 80 and 81 of the drum 70 are journaled in the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on the supporting frames 68 and 69, respectively, in the same manner that the end portions 61 of the end rings 55 and 56 are journaled in the supporting frames 31 and 32, so that when the machine 1 is in completely assembled condition, the drum 70 is supported by the supporting frames 68 and 69 for rotation around its longitudinal axis, and is also held thereby against longitudinal movement relative thereto.
A sprocket wheel 83 is mounted on the end portion 81 of the drum 70 between the body portion 82 thereof and the rollers on the supporting frame 69. A motor 84 is mounted on and supported by the auxiliary frame 23 above the drum 70. A sprocket wheel 85 is mounted on the drive shaft 86 of the motor 84, and is operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 83 on the drum 70 of a chain 87.
With this construction, when the motor 84 is energized, it is effective to drive the sprocket wheel 83 through the drive shaft 86, the sprocket wheel 85 and the chain 87, and thereby rotate the drum 70 around its longitudinal axis in the supporting frames 68 and 69. In the assembled machine 1, the drum 70 is so disposed relative to the frame 7 that when the machine 1 is disposed in operative position, and the drum 70 is rotated by the motor 84, the ripper points 71 projecting downwardly from the drum 70 are effective to engage the subgrade material over which the digging unit 9 is disposed, to thereby tear and loosen this material for subsequent pickup and the pickup unit 10, and discharge by the discharge unit 11-12, as will presently be described in greater detail.
The conveyor unit 11 includes a roller 88 which extends between, and is journaled in the lower end portion of two elongated supporting members 89 and 90 suspended from the lower faces of the side rails 24 and 25 of the auxiliary carriage 23 in substantially parallel relation to each other, FIG. 2. The upper ends of the members 89 and 90 may be secured to the respective side rails 24 and 25 by any suitable means, such as, welding. At the other end of the elongated conveyor 11, a roller 91 extends between, and is journaled in two side rails 92 and 93 secured to and projecting outwardly from the side rails 35 and 36, respectively, of the supporting frame 32 in substantially horizontally extending, parallel relation to each other. A belt 93 is trained around the rollers 88 and 91 so that upon rotation of either of the rollers 88 or 91, the belt 93 is caused to travel around the two rollers.
The conveyor 11, when the rotary unit 54 is disposed in lowered, operative position, is disposed on the longitudinal axis of the rotary unit 54. The conveyor 11 is of such width and thickness that it is disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the rotary unit 54 and the supporting frames 31 and 32. It will be remembered that the right end of the conveyor 11, as viewed in FIG. 2, is secured to the supporting frame 32. Thus, when the pickup unit 10 is moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the auxiliary carriage 23, the conveyor unit 11 pivots upwardly and downwardly around the interconnection of the roller 88 with the supporting members 89 and 90.
A sprocket wheel 95 is operatively connected to the roller 88, and a motor 96, for rotating the sprocket wheel 95, is mounted on the auxiliary carriage 23 above the roller 88. A sprocket wheel 97 is mounted on the drive shaft 98 of the motor 96, and is operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 95 by a chain 99. Thus, upon energization of the motor 96 it is effective through the drive shaft 98, the sprocket wheel 97 and the chain 99 to rotate the sprocket 95 and thereby rotate the roller 88 and cause the belt 94 to travel around the rollers 88 and 91.
A plurality of identical supporting brackets 100 are mounted on and extend laterally outwardly and downwardly from the side rail 21 of the trusswork 6, FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the supporting brackets 100 has an elongated arm 101 which projects laterally outwardly and downwardly away from the supporting rail 21, and is connected at its lower end to an arm 102 which projects horizontally inwardly toward the trusswork 6. In the assembled machine 1, the arms 102 on the supporting brackets 100 are disposed in position to support the elongated conveyor 12 vertically below the path of travel of the outer end of the conveyor 11 when the carriage 7 moves back and forth along the trusswork 6. Preferably, the conveyor 12 is of such length that it projects outwardly beyond the roadway 2 being subgraded.
The conveyor 12 may be of any suitable type available on the market, such as, for example, a belt conveyor embodying an elongated supporting frame 103 along which a conveyor belt 104 is movable in upper and lower passes 105 and 106, respectively, with the upper pass 105 being supported by idler rollers 107 periodically along the length of the supporting frame 103. A motor 108 is mounted on the trusswork 6, and has a sprocket wheel 109 operatively connected by a chain 110 to a sprocket wheel 111 on the conveyor 12, so that energization of the motor 108 is operable to rotate the sprocket 111 and thereby operate the conveyor 12.
Like the surfacing unit of the aforementioned Bidwell patent, the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the trusswork 6, transversely of the road 2, by means of chains 112, which are driven by a power unit 113, such operation being discussed in greater detail in the Bidwell patent.
The trusswork 6 is capable of being adjusted vertically with respect to the roadway 2 by means which include vertically extending rods 114 mounted in tubular members 115 and arranged to be raised and lowered by rotation of cranks 116, FIG. 1, the rollers 14 being rotatably mounted on the lower ends of the respective rods 114.
In order to accommodate the movement of the earth-handling unit 8 to the desired slope of the highway 2, the trusswork 6 is hinged intermediate the ends thereof as at 117. Raising and lowering of the trusswork 6 at the center thereof is then accomplished by an adjusting assembly which includes the bars 118 mounted on the trusswork 6 and through which extend a threaded rod 119. Nuts 120 engage the threaded rod 119 on opposite sides of the bars 118 so that proper adjustment thereof will change the angular pitch of the trusswork 6 at either side of the center thereof, all as more specifically described in the aforementioned Bidwell patent. Further adjustment of the trusswork 6 to achieve variations in the highway contour, may be made by use of the adjusting means 121.
In the operation of the earth-moving machine 1, it is first disposed in proper position over the roadway 2, with the pins 53 engaged in the lower holes 52 in the supporting frames 31 and 32, to thereby hold the pickup unit 10 in raised position, wherein it is ineffective to engage the ground under the auxiliary carriage 23. At this same time, the digging unit 9 is disposed in such position that the ripper points 71 thereof are engaged with the ground underlying the auxiliary frame 23, to a depth corresponding to the depth of subgrade desired to be removed by the machine 1, this being controlled by adjustment of the height of the trusswork 6 above the roadway 2 by adjustment of the supports 14, and adjustment of the contour of the trusswork 6 by adjusting the mechanism 118-120 and 121.
With the machine 1 so positioned and adjusted, the motor 84 may be energized to thereby rotate the drum 70 of the digging unit 9, and the power unit 113 may be energized to cause the carriage 7, and, therefore, the earth-handling unit 8 to move longitudinally along the trusswork 6, transversely to the roadway 2. Such movement of the earth-handling unit 8 is effective to move the digging unit 9 in a direction transverse to the roadway 2 to thereby cause the ripper points 71 to tear and loosen the subgrade material over which the digging unit 9 passes. When the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 reaches one edge of the highway 2, the operation of the power unit is reversed to thereby cause the digging unit 9 to move in a reverse direction along the trusswork 6.
After the digging unit 9 has traversed the full width of the highway 2, the trusswork 6 may be moved along the supports 4 transversely to the length of the trusswork 6, to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. Normally, it is preferred to move the machine 1 along the supports 14 a distance equal to approximately two-thirds of the length of the drum 70. After this movement of the machine has been accomplished, the carriage 7 may again be moved from one side of the highway 2 to the other, with the motor 84 energized to thereby cause the digging unit 9 to tear and loosen the previously unbroken subgrade material. When the carriage 7 reaches the other side of the highway, the motor 84 and the power unit 113 may again be stopped and the machine again moved forwardly in a direction to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the motor 84 may again be energized and the power unit 113 may be energized in a reverse direction to return the carriage 7 to the other side of the highway 2.
If desired, the motor 84 may be of the reversible type, or other suitable mechanism, such as a reversing-gear unit, not shown, may be embodied in the drive mechanism for rotating the drum 70, so that rotation of the drum 70 may be varied with each pass of the carriage 7 transversely across the highway 2, so as to cause the ripper points 71 to engage the underlying subgrade with a cutting action in the direction of travel of the carriage 7 across the trusswork 6. However, I prefer to have the drum 70 rotated in one direction during movement of the carriage 7 in both directions along the trusswork 6, with the drive ratio between the motor 83 and the drum 70 being such that the peripheral speed of rotation of the drum 70 is several times, such as, for example, four or five times, the lateral speed of the carriage 7 along the trusswork 6.
In the operation of the machine 1, as soon as it has been moved forwardly along the supports 13 a sufficient distance that the pickup unit 10, when lowered, will engage subgrade material which has been previously loosened by the digging unit 9, without engaging subgrade material which has not been so loosened, the pickup unit 10 may be moved from the raised position, in which it has been held, to lowered position, as shown in FIG. 2. In this lowered position, the blades 62 of the pickup unit 10, at their lowermost point during rotation of the rotary unit 54, are substantially at the same height as the heads of the ripper points 71 on the digging unit 9, at the lowermost point during the rotation thereof. Such lowering of the pickup unit 10 may be accomplished by removing the pins 53 from the openings 52, turning the handwheels 54 so as to lower the pickup unit 10 downwardly through the channel members 47 and 48 into position wherein the openings 51 are disposed in axial alignment with the corresponding openings 29 and 50, and then reinserting the pins 53 through the openings 51 and the corresponding, aligned openings 49 and 50. Thereafter, during each pass of the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 longitudinally across the trusswork 6, the motors 84, 77, 96 and 108 all may be energized to thereby operatively drive the drum 70 of the digging unit 9, the rotary unit 54 of the pickup unit 10, the belt conveyor 11 and the belt conveyor 12, respectively.
With the machine 1 operating in this manner, and being moved forwardly along the supporting members 13 after each pass of the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 across the highway 2, longitudinally of the trusswork 6, the ripper points 71 of the digging unit 9 are effective to loosen a new supply of subgrade material during each such pass, and the blades 62 during the rotation of the rotary unit 54 are effective to engage and pick up previously loosened subgrade material. During such operation, the rotation of both the drum 70 and the rotary unit 54 preferably is in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. With such rotation of the rotary unit 54, the apexes of the blades 62 afforded by the junction of the respective arms 63 and 64 thereof are the first portion of each of the blades 62 to engage the subgrade material, which enhances the cutting action of the blades 62 entering this material. As the blades 62 engage the subgrade material, and the rotary unit 54 continues to rotate, the material is picked up on the faces 122 of the heads 65 of the blade 62 and carried around and upwardly to a position, substantially at the top of their rotation, wherein the picked up material falls by gravity from the blade 62 onto the belt 94 of the then operating belt conveyor 11.
During such operation of the machine 1, the belt 94 is moving around the rollers 88 and 91 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, so that the conveyor 11 is effective to advance the subgrade material, received from the pickup unit 10 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, and to dump it on the belt 104 of the conveyor 12.
It will be remembered that in the preferred form of the machine 1, the conveyor 12 extends longitudinally outwardly past both sides of the highway 2. With this construction, the motor 108 may be effective to drive the upper pass 105 of the belt 104 of the conveyor 12 either to the left or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, and to dump the subgrade material received from the conveyor 11 outwardly of the supporting members 13 disposed at the corresponding left or right sides of the highway 2. Such dumping, if desired may be directly into a suitable vehicle for hauling the subgrade material away from the road 2.
It will be seen that with the machine 1 constructed, and operating, in the aforementioned manner, the subgrade material removed thereby may readily be removed at the desired slope or crown of the highway 2, this being readily adjusted by use of the adjusting mechanism 118-120 and 121, and by adjusting the rods 114 at the opposite sides of the highway 2 to the appropriate lengths.
Also, it will be seen that with the machine 1 constructed, and operating, in the aforementioned manner, the depth to which the subgrade material is removed may be readily adjusted by raising or lowering the rods 114 in the tubular members 115, by turning the cranks 116.
In addition, it will be seen that with the machine 1 constructed, and operated in the aforementioned manner, the digging unit 9 and the pickup unit 10 are disposed in a practical, end-to-end relation to each other, and are movable, together, with the carriage 7 back and forth across the highway 2, and, after the initial loosening of subgrade material, are simultaneously operable so that they are effective to simultaneously loosen new subgrade material and pick up previously loosened subgrade material, respectively.
The modified form of my machine which I have shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 operates on the same principle as the preferred form of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, and like reference numerals have been used on like parts and the same reference numerals with the suffix a have been used on parts which are similar, but which have been substituted for parts of the preferred form of my invention. All of the changes made in the modified form of my invention over the preferred form as shown are embodied in the rotary unit 54a supported by the auxiliary carriage 23.
It will be noted that the changes made in the modified form of my invention comprise the following, namely, that the rotary unit 54a comprises a plurality of spaced elongated blades 62a mounted on the rings 55-59 in preferably substantially straight helical paths, rather than the serpentine, back and forth path of the blade 62 in the machine 1. The blades 62a preferably have the same cross-sectional shape as the blades 62 and are effective to pick up and dump subgrade material, and the like, upon rotation of the rotary unit 52a in the same manner that the blades 62 operate upon rotation of the rotary unit 54.
It will be seen that the present invention affords a novel earth-moving machine by which subgrade material may be removed from highway surfaces, and the like, in a substantially continuous operation, with the material removed being continuously dumped laterally outwardly of the surface from which it is being removed.
Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords an earth-moving machine, which is well adapted for subgrading operations, and the like, and which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.
Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.
This invention relates to earth-moving machines and, more particularly, to machines which are particularly well adapted for subgrading operations, and the like.
It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel earth-moving machine.
Another object is to afford a novel subgrading machine.
Machines for use in subgrading operations, and the like, have been heretofore known in the art. However, such machines that have been heretofore known have commonly had several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, being large and cumbersome in size; being complicated in construction; being difficult and complicated to operate; not being capable of accurately affording a uniform level to a surface being subgraded, when such was desired; not being capable of accurately and uniformly affording a predetermined slope or a predetermined crown to a surface being subgraded, when such were desired; or not being efficient and reliable in operation, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.
Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which is particularly well adapted for subgrading operations in the construction of highways, and the like.
Another object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which is operable in a novel and expeditious manner to remove subgrade material to a predetermined level.
Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel earth-moving machine wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged that the slope and contour of a surface being subgraded thereby may be selectively controlled in a novel and expeditious manner.
A further object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged that the dirt or other subgrade material to be removed by the machine in a subgrading operation is loosened, picked up and transported away in a novel and expeditious manner.
Another object is to afford a novel digging unit for an earth-moving machine for loosening subgrade material.
Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel pickup unit for an earth-moving machine for picking up subgrade material.
Yet another object is to afford a novel discharge unit for an earth-moving machine for discharging or transferring away subgrade material.
A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which embodies a digger unit, a pickup unit and a discharge unit constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner for effective concurrent operation.
Another object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine for use in subgrading operations on highways, and the like, which is so constructed that it can span a highway and be moved longitudinally therealong to simultaneously loosen, pick up and discharge off from the highway subgrade material throughout the width of the highway.
Another object is to afford a novel earth-moving machine which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.
Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompany drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings
FIG. 1 is a cross section of a roadway showing an earth-moving machine, embodying the principles of the present invention, in side elevation and disposed in operative position over the roadway;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pickup unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, detail elevational view taken substantially along the line 6--6 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 7--7 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of pickup unit for use in the earth-moving machine shown in FIGS. 1-7; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 9--9 in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS SHOWN HEREIN
An earth-moving machine 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. The machine 1 is shown in FIG. 1 disposed in operative position over a roadway 2 in position to remove the subgrade 3 so as to lower the level of the roadway 2 from the level 4 of the surrounding terrain to the desired level 5.
The machine 1, shown in the drawings, includes an elongated frame or trusswork 6 which is adapted to longitudinally extend transversely of the roadway 2 being subgraded, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the roadway in a direction transverse to the length of the trusswork by any suitable means, either mechanically or by hand. The trusswork 6, preferably, is of the same type as that shown in the S. P. Bidwell U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,361, issued Sept. 28, 1965, and is described in greater detail herein.
The earth-moving machine 1, shown in the drawings, also embodies, in general, a carriage 7 having an earth-handling unit 8 mounted thereon in depending relation thereto, with the carriage 7 being reciprocable longitudinally of the trusswork 6 to thereby carry the earth-handling unit 8 back and forth, transversely across the roadway 2.
The earth-handling unit 8, FIG. 2, embodies, in general, a digging unit or ripper 9, a pickup unit 10 and a discharge unit, embodying two elongated discharge members in the form of belt conveyors 11 and 12. The digging unit 9 is operable to tear or loosen subgrade material; the pickup unit 10 is operable to pick up such loosened material; and the discharge unit 11-12 is operable to discharge the picked up material outwardly of the machine 1 and the roadway 2, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
In the arrangement of the machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, vertical supports 13 are positioned on opposite sides of the roadway 2 and extend lengthwise thereof, the upper edges of the supports 13 being adapted to receive rollers 14 on the trusswork 6 to enable the trusswork 6 to be moved along the supports 13.
The carriage 7, FIGS. 1 and 2, includes two horizontally extending, horizontally spaced, substantially parallel outer side rails 15 and 16, and two end plates 17 and 18 extending between and mounted on respective opposite ends of the side rails 15 and 16. Each of the end plates 17 and 18 has two outwardly projecting, horizontally spaced upper rollers 19 mounted on respective opposite ends thereof. The rollers 19 are so disposed on the end plates 17 and 18 that, when the earth-moving machine 1 is in completely assembled form, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rollers 19 on the end plates 17 and 18 are disposed in position to be supported by, and ride along, the tops of side rails 20 and 21 disposed on opposite sides of the trusswork 6, to thereby support the carriage 7 for movement longitudinally of the trusswork 6.
Each of the end plates 17 and 18 on the carriage 7 also has two outwardly projecting holddown rollers 22 disposed below respective ones of the upper rollers 19 in vertically spaced relation thereto. The rollers 22 are so disposed on the end plates 17 and 18 that when the carriage 7 is supported on the side rails 20 and 21 of the trusswork 6 by the rollers 19, in the aforementioned manner, the rollers 22 on the end plates 17 and 18 are disposed in abutting engagement with the lower faces of the side rails 20 and 21 in position to hold the rollers 19 downwardly against the side rails 20 and 21.
The earth-handling unit 8 embodies an elongated auxiliary carriage 23, which is substantially rectangular in shape, and embodies two elongated, substantially parallel side rails 24 and 25. Two end rails 26 and 27 extend between and are mounted on respective opposite ends of the side rails 24 and 25 in substantially parallel relation to each other. Two cross braces 28 and 29 extend between the two side rails 24 and 25 in parallel spaced relation to each other and to the end rails 26 and 27.
Two supporting frames 31 and 32 are adjustably mounted on and supported by the cross brace 29 and end rail 27, respectively, FIG. 2. The supporting frames 31 and 32 are identical in construction, and, as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the supporting frame 32, they are substantially square in shape, and each embodies horizontally extending upper and lower rails 33 and 34 disposed in parallel relation to each other, and two vertically extending, substantially parallel side rails 35 and 36 extending between and mounted on respective ends of the rails 33 and 34. Two rollers 37 and 38 are mounted on and suspended from the lower face of the upper rail 33 of each of the supporting frames 31 and 32 by suitable mounts 39 and 40, respectively, and, similarly, two rollers 41 and 42 are mounted on the upper face of the lower rail 34 of each of the supporting frames 31 and 32 by suitable mounts 43 and 44, as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the supporting frame 32. The rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on each of the supporting frames 31 and 32 project inwardly therefrom toward the other of the supporting frames 32 and 31, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to the roller 38, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.
The supporting frames 31 and 32 are adjustably supported from the auxiliary frame 23 for vertical movement upwardly and downwardly therefrom by two elongated plates 45 and 46 mounted on and projecting from each of the top rails 33, and slidably mounted in channel members 47 and 48, respectively, mounted on the cross brace 29 and the end rail 30, respectively. A hole 49 is formed in each of the channel members 47 and 48 in alignment with a corresponding hole 50 formed in the respective portion of the cross brace 29 or the end rail 27 on which the channel member 47 or 48 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 7. Two openings 51 and 52 are formed in each of the plates 45 and 46, in vertically spaced relation to each other, FIG. 7, the openings 51 and 52 being of the same diameter as the openings 49 and 50, and being sized to receive a pin 53 therein when they are disposed in alignment with the openings 49 and 50, the pins 53, in such instance, extending through the openings 49 and 40 and through whichever one of the openings 51 and 52 are disposed in alignment with the respective pairs of openings 49 and 50. It will be seen that, with this arrangement, the supporting frames 31 and 32 may be selectively supported in lowered position, when the pins 53 are disposed through the upper openings 51, and in raised position, when the pins 53 are disposed through the lower openings 52 in the plates 45 and 46. Such vertical adjustment of the supporting frames 31 and 32 relative to the auxiliary frame 23 is desired for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.
Movement of the supporting frames 31 and 32 upwardly and downwardly relative to the auxiliary frame 23 may be effected by any suitable mechanism, such as, for example, handwheels 54, each having a threaded shank 55 threaded into the cross brace 29 and the end rail 30, respectively, with the lower ends of the shanks 55 rotatably secured to the top rails 33 of the corresponding supporting frames 31 and 32, as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the supporting frame 32. With this construction, when it is desired to raise or lower the supporting frames 31 and 32, the pins 53 may be removed therefrom, and the handwheels 54 may be rotated to thereby cause the desired vertical movement of the plates 45 and 46 relative to the brackets 47 and 48, respectively. When the supporting frames 31 and 32 have been raised or lowered to the proper position to dispose the openings 52 or 51, respectively, in alignment with the corresponding openings 49 and 50, the pins 53 may be reinserted into operative position with the aligned openings so that the supporting frames 31 and 32 are supported by the respective pairs of pins 53, together with the handwheel mechanisms 54-55.
The supporting frames 31 and 32 form an integral part of the pickup unit 10, and are disposed at respective opposite ends thereof. The pickup unit 10 also includes an elongated rotary unit 54 which extends between the supporting frames 31 and 32 and is rotatably supported by the rollers 37, 38 41 and 42 thereon, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
The rotary unit 54 includes two circular shaped end rings or annular members 55 and 56, and three intermediate rings 57, 58 and 59 disposed in parallel, axially aligned, spaced relation to each other and to the end rings 55 and 56, FIGS. 2 and 4. All of the rings 55-59 have the same outside diameter. The rings 55 and 56 are identical in construction, each embodying a large annular portion 60 from which a smaller annular end portion 61 projects. The rings 57-59 are also all identical in construction, preferably being of uniform cross-sectional size at all portions thereof.
In the rotary unit 54, the end rings 55 and 56 are disposed at the respective opposite ends thereof, with the end portions 61 projecting axially outwardly from the body portions 60, FIG. 4. A plurality of elongated blades 62 are secured to and extend between the peripheries of the body portions 60 of the end rings 55 and 56, FIGS. 2 and 4. Each of the blades 62 have two arms 63 and 64 disposed at an angle to each other. The arms 63 extend from the periphery of the body portion 60 of the end ring 55 across the outer peripheral face of the adjacent intermediate ring 57 to the outer peripheral face of the centrally disposed intermediate ring 58, the arms 63 being secured to these faces of the rings 55, 57 and 58 by suitable means, such as, welding. The arm 64 of each blade 62 extends from the outer peripheral surface of the body portion 60 of the end ring 56 across the outer peripheral surface of the adjacent intermediate ring 59 to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate ring 58, and terminates at its inner end in abutting relation to the corresponding inner end of the arm 63 of that blade 62, the arm 64 of each blade 62 being secured to the aforementioned outer peripheral faces of the rings 56, 58 and 59, respectively. Preferably, the arms 63 and 64 of each of the blades 62 are equal in length, and extend from the end rings 55 and 46, respectively, to the intermediate ring 58 along the shortest, smooth arcuate path across the intermediate rings 57 and 49, respectively. The rings 55-59 and the blades 62 may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, steel, and, preferably, the blades are equally spaced around the rings 55-59 with the points defined by the engagement of the arms 63 and 64 thereof pointing in the same direction around the circumference of the rotary unit 54. Thus, it will be seen that the rotary unit 54 comprises a plurality of parallel, axially aligned spaced rings 55-59 having blades 62 disposed in a serpentine, substantially V-shaped path on the outer periphery thereof.
Each of the blades 62 is substantially T-shaped in transverse cross section, FIG. 3, having a head portion 65 mounted on and supported by a body portion 66 in outwardly spaced relation to the outer peripheries of the rings 55-59. The longitudinal edges of the head portions 65 are tapered to a sharp edge to afford cutting edges 67 for cutting into the dirt or other subgrade material to be picked up by the pickup unit 10, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
Two other supporting frames 68 and 69, FIG. 2, are supported from the auxiliary frame 23, and form the end members of the digging unit 9. The supporting frames 68 and 69 are identical to each other in construction. They are also identical in construction to the supporting frames 31 and 32 except that the side rails 35 and 36 thereof extend upwardly above the top rails 33 and are secured to the lower faces of the side rails 24 and 25 by suitable means, such as, welding, to thereby support the supporting frames 68 and 69 in fixed, downwardly spaced, suspended position relative to the auxiliary frame 23. Each of the supporting frames 68 and 69 have rollers and mounts therefor constructed and arranged thereon in the same manner as the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 and the mounts 39, 40, 41 and 42 therefor on the supporting frames 31 and 32. These rollers on the supporting frames 68 and 69 in the machine 1 rotatably support a substantially cylindrical shaped drum 70 of the digging unit 9, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.
A plurality of elongated ripper points or cutters 71 are mounted on the periphery of the drum 70 in longitudinally outwardly projecting relation thereto, FIG. 2. The ripper points 71 are disposed around the periphery of the drum 70 in substantially equally spaced, helical paths, and afford means for tearing up and loosening the subgrade material to be removed during operation of the machine 1. The ripper points may be of any suitable construction, but, preferably, they are substantially T-shaped in construction embodying flat heads 72 mounted on elongated shanks 73, with the heads being substantially diamond shape in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the respective shafts 73. Preferably, the heads 72 are of reduced thickness at their outer peripheral edges to thereby afford cutting edges for assisting in cutting into and tearing up the ground during operation of the machine 1.
Each of the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 mounted on the supporting frames 31, 32, 68 and 69 has a main body portion 74 at one end thereof, and an enlarged portion, affording a radially outwardly projecting flange 75, at the other end thereof, as shown in FIG. 5 with respect to the roller 38.
The rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on the supporting frames 31 and 32 are preferably equally spaced from each other, around the square which they define, and they are disposed in such position that when the rotary unit 54 is disposed in operative position in the machine 1, the outer edges of the ends 61 of the end rings 55 and 56 of the rotary unit 54 are journaled in the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on the supporting frames 31 and 32, respectively, with the outer peripheries of the ring ends 61 and 62 riding on the outer peripheries of the body portions 74 of the respective group of rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 in which they are journaled, and with the flanges 75 on those rollers disposed in abutting engagement with the adjacent end face of the respective ring ends 61, as shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the roller 38 on the supporting frame 32, which is disposed in engagement with the end ring 56. It will be seen that, with this construction, the rotary unit 54 is rotatably mounted in the supporting frames 31 and 32 for rotation around its longitudinal axis, and is held by the flanges 75 disposed in abutting engagement with the respective opposite ends thereof, from axial movement relative to the auxiliary frame 23.
A sprocket wheel 76 is mounted on the end portion 61 of the end ring 56 and is secured thereto by suitable means, such as, welding, between the body portion 60 of the ring 56 and the adjacent rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42. A suitable drive mechanism, such as a motor 77, is mounted on the auxiliary frame 23 above the rotary unit 54. The motor 77 has another sprocket wheel 78 mounted on the drive shaft 79 thereof, and the sprocket wheel 78 is operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 76 by a chain 79 so that, during operation of the machine 1, operation of the motor 77 is effective to drive the sprocket wheel 76 and thereby rotate the rotary unit 54 around its longitudinal axis.
The drum 70 of the digging unit 9, like the end rings 55 and 56 of the pickup unit 10, embodies two annular end portions 80 and 81 projecting outwardly from the main body portion 82 thereof. The end portions 80 and 81 of the drum 70 are journaled in the rollers 37, 38, 41 and 42 on the supporting frames 68 and 69, respectively, in the same manner that the end portions 61 of the end rings 55 and 56 are journaled in the supporting frames 31 and 32, so that when the machine 1 is in completely assembled condition, the drum 70 is supported by the supporting frames 68 and 69 for rotation around its longitudinal axis, and is also held thereby against longitudinal movement relative thereto.
A sprocket wheel 83 is mounted on the end portion 81 of the drum 70 between the body portion 82 thereof and the rollers on the supporting frame 69. A motor 84 is mounted on and supported by the auxiliary frame 23 above the drum 70. A sprocket wheel 85 is mounted on the drive shaft 86 of the motor 84, and is operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 83 on the drum 70 of a chain 87.
With this construction, when the motor 84 is energized, it is effective to drive the sprocket wheel 83 through the drive shaft 86, the sprocket wheel 85 and the chain 87, and thereby rotate the drum 70 around its longitudinal axis in the supporting frames 68 and 69. In the assembled machine 1, the drum 70 is so disposed relative to the frame 7 that when the machine 1 is disposed in operative position, and the drum 70 is rotated by the motor 84, the ripper points 71 projecting downwardly from the drum 70 are effective to engage the subgrade material over which the digging unit 9 is disposed, to thereby tear and loosen this material for subsequent pickup and the pickup unit 10, and discharge by the discharge unit 11-12, as will presently be described in greater detail.
The conveyor unit 11 includes a roller 88 which extends between, and is journaled in the lower end portion of two elongated supporting members 89 and 90 suspended from the lower faces of the side rails 24 and 25 of the auxiliary carriage 23 in substantially parallel relation to each other, FIG. 2. The upper ends of the members 89 and 90 may be secured to the respective side rails 24 and 25 by any suitable means, such as, welding. At the other end of the elongated conveyor 11, a roller 91 extends between, and is journaled in two side rails 92 and 93 secured to and projecting outwardly from the side rails 35 and 36, respectively, of the supporting frame 32 in substantially horizontally extending, parallel relation to each other. A belt 93 is trained around the rollers 88 and 91 so that upon rotation of either of the rollers 88 or 91, the belt 93 is caused to travel around the two rollers.
The conveyor 11, when the rotary unit 54 is disposed in lowered, operative position, is disposed on the longitudinal axis of the rotary unit 54. The conveyor 11 is of such width and thickness that it is disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the rotary unit 54 and the supporting frames 31 and 32. It will be remembered that the right end of the conveyor 11, as viewed in FIG. 2, is secured to the supporting frame 32. Thus, when the pickup unit 10 is moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the auxiliary carriage 23, the conveyor unit 11 pivots upwardly and downwardly around the interconnection of the roller 88 with the supporting members 89 and 90.
A sprocket wheel 95 is operatively connected to the roller 88, and a motor 96, for rotating the sprocket wheel 95, is mounted on the auxiliary carriage 23 above the roller 88. A sprocket wheel 97 is mounted on the drive shaft 98 of the motor 96, and is operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 95 by a chain 99. Thus, upon energization of the motor 96 it is effective through the drive shaft 98, the sprocket wheel 97 and the chain 99 to rotate the sprocket 95 and thereby rotate the roller 88 and cause the belt 94 to travel around the rollers 88 and 91.
A plurality of identical supporting brackets 100 are mounted on and extend laterally outwardly and downwardly from the side rail 21 of the trusswork 6, FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the supporting brackets 100 has an elongated arm 101 which projects laterally outwardly and downwardly away from the supporting rail 21, and is connected at its lower end to an arm 102 which projects horizontally inwardly toward the trusswork 6. In the assembled machine 1, the arms 102 on the supporting brackets 100 are disposed in position to support the elongated conveyor 12 vertically below the path of travel of the outer end of the conveyor 11 when the carriage 7 moves back and forth along the trusswork 6. Preferably, the conveyor 12 is of such length that it projects outwardly beyond the roadway 2 being subgraded.
The conveyor 12 may be of any suitable type available on the market, such as, for example, a belt conveyor embodying an elongated supporting frame 103 along which a conveyor belt 104 is movable in upper and lower passes 105 and 106, respectively, with the upper pass 105 being supported by idler rollers 107 periodically along the length of the supporting frame 103. A motor 108 is mounted on the trusswork 6, and has a sprocket wheel 109 operatively connected by a chain 110 to a sprocket wheel 111 on the conveyor 12, so that energization of the motor 108 is operable to rotate the sprocket 111 and thereby operate the conveyor 12.
Like the surfacing unit of the aforementioned Bidwell patent, the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the trusswork 6, transversely of the road 2, by means of chains 112, which are driven by a power unit 113, such operation being discussed in greater detail in the Bidwell patent.
The trusswork 6 is capable of being adjusted vertically with respect to the roadway 2 by means which include vertically extending rods 114 mounted in tubular members 115 and arranged to be raised and lowered by rotation of cranks 116, FIG. 1, the rollers 14 being rotatably mounted on the lower ends of the respective rods 114.
In order to accommodate the movement of the earth-handling unit 8 to the desired slope of the highway 2, the trusswork 6 is hinged intermediate the ends thereof as at 117. Raising and lowering of the trusswork 6 at the center thereof is then accomplished by an adjusting assembly which includes the bars 118 mounted on the trusswork 6 and through which extend a threaded rod 119. Nuts 120 engage the threaded rod 119 on opposite sides of the bars 118 so that proper adjustment thereof will change the angular pitch of the trusswork 6 at either side of the center thereof, all as more specifically described in the aforementioned Bidwell patent. Further adjustment of the trusswork 6 to achieve variations in the highway contour, may be made by use of the adjusting means 121.
In the operation of the earth-moving machine 1, it is first disposed in proper position over the roadway 2, with the pins 53 engaged in the lower holes 52 in the supporting frames 31 and 32, to thereby hold the pickup unit 10 in raised position, wherein it is ineffective to engage the ground under the auxiliary carriage 23. At this same time, the digging unit 9 is disposed in such position that the ripper points 71 thereof are engaged with the ground underlying the auxiliary frame 23, to a depth corresponding to the depth of subgrade desired to be removed by the machine 1, this being controlled by adjustment of the height of the trusswork 6 above the roadway 2 by adjustment of the supports 14, and adjustment of the contour of the trusswork 6 by adjusting the mechanism 118-120 and 121.
With the machine 1 so positioned and adjusted, the motor 84 may be energized to thereby rotate the drum 70 of the digging unit 9, and the power unit 113 may be energized to cause the carriage 7, and, therefore, the earth-handling unit 8 to move longitudinally along the trusswork 6, transversely to the roadway 2. Such movement of the earth-handling unit 8 is effective to move the digging unit 9 in a direction transverse to the roadway 2 to thereby cause the ripper points 71 to tear and loosen the subgrade material over which the digging unit 9 passes. When the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 reaches one edge of the highway 2, the operation of the power unit is reversed to thereby cause the digging unit 9 to move in a reverse direction along the trusswork 6.
After the digging unit 9 has traversed the full width of the highway 2, the trusswork 6 may be moved along the supports 4 transversely to the length of the trusswork 6, to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. Normally, it is preferred to move the machine 1 along the supports 14 a distance equal to approximately two-thirds of the length of the drum 70. After this movement of the machine has been accomplished, the carriage 7 may again be moved from one side of the highway 2 to the other, with the motor 84 energized to thereby cause the digging unit 9 to tear and loosen the previously unbroken subgrade material. When the carriage 7 reaches the other side of the highway, the motor 84 and the power unit 113 may again be stopped and the machine again moved forwardly in a direction to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the motor 84 may again be energized and the power unit 113 may be energized in a reverse direction to return the carriage 7 to the other side of the highway 2.
If desired, the motor 84 may be of the reversible type, or other suitable mechanism, such as a reversing-gear unit, not shown, may be embodied in the drive mechanism for rotating the drum 70, so that rotation of the drum 70 may be varied with each pass of the carriage 7 transversely across the highway 2, so as to cause the ripper points 71 to engage the underlying subgrade with a cutting action in the direction of travel of the carriage 7 across the trusswork 6. However, I prefer to have the drum 70 rotated in one direction during movement of the carriage 7 in both directions along the trusswork 6, with the drive ratio between the motor 83 and the drum 70 being such that the peripheral speed of rotation of the drum 70 is several times, such as, for example, four or five times, the lateral speed of the carriage 7 along the trusswork 6.
In the operation of the machine 1, as soon as it has been moved forwardly along the supports 13 a sufficient distance that the pickup unit 10, when lowered, will engage subgrade material which has been previously loosened by the digging unit 9, without engaging subgrade material which has not been so loosened, the pickup unit 10 may be moved from the raised position, in which it has been held, to lowered position, as shown in FIG. 2. In this lowered position, the blades 62 of the pickup unit 10, at their lowermost point during rotation of the rotary unit 54, are substantially at the same height as the heads of the ripper points 71 on the digging unit 9, at the lowermost point during the rotation thereof. Such lowering of the pickup unit 10 may be accomplished by removing the pins 53 from the openings 52, turning the handwheels 54 so as to lower the pickup unit 10 downwardly through the channel members 47 and 48 into position wherein the openings 51 are disposed in axial alignment with the corresponding openings 29 and 50, and then reinserting the pins 53 through the openings 51 and the corresponding, aligned openings 49 and 50. Thereafter, during each pass of the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 longitudinally across the trusswork 6, the motors 84, 77, 96 and 108 all may be energized to thereby operatively drive the drum 70 of the digging unit 9, the rotary unit 54 of the pickup unit 10, the belt conveyor 11 and the belt conveyor 12, respectively.
With the machine 1 operating in this manner, and being moved forwardly along the supporting members 13 after each pass of the carriage 7 and the earth-handling unit 8 across the highway 2, longitudinally of the trusswork 6, the ripper points 71 of the digging unit 9 are effective to loosen a new supply of subgrade material during each such pass, and the blades 62 during the rotation of the rotary unit 54 are effective to engage and pick up previously loosened subgrade material. During such operation, the rotation of both the drum 70 and the rotary unit 54 preferably is in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. With such rotation of the rotary unit 54, the apexes of the blades 62 afforded by the junction of the respective arms 63 and 64 thereof are the first portion of each of the blades 62 to engage the subgrade material, which enhances the cutting action of the blades 62 entering this material. As the blades 62 engage the subgrade material, and the rotary unit 54 continues to rotate, the material is picked up on the faces 122 of the heads 65 of the blade 62 and carried around and upwardly to a position, substantially at the top of their rotation, wherein the picked up material falls by gravity from the blade 62 onto the belt 94 of the then operating belt conveyor 11.
During such operation of the machine 1, the belt 94 is moving around the rollers 88 and 91 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, so that the conveyor 11 is effective to advance the subgrade material, received from the pickup unit 10 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, and to dump it on the belt 104 of the conveyor 12.
It will be remembered that in the preferred form of the machine 1, the conveyor 12 extends longitudinally outwardly past both sides of the highway 2. With this construction, the motor 108 may be effective to drive the upper pass 105 of the belt 104 of the conveyor 12 either to the left or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, and to dump the subgrade material received from the conveyor 11 outwardly of the supporting members 13 disposed at the corresponding left or right sides of the highway 2. Such dumping, if desired may be directly into a suitable vehicle for hauling the subgrade material away from the road 2.
It will be seen that with the machine 1 constructed, and operating, in the aforementioned manner, the subgrade material removed thereby may readily be removed at the desired slope or crown of the highway 2, this being readily adjusted by use of the adjusting mechanism 118-120 and 121, and by adjusting the rods 114 at the opposite sides of the highway 2 to the appropriate lengths.
Also, it will be seen that with the machine 1 constructed, and operating, in the aforementioned manner, the depth to which the subgrade material is removed may be readily adjusted by raising or lowering the rods 114 in the tubular members 115, by turning the cranks 116.
In addition, it will be seen that with the machine 1 constructed, and operated in the aforementioned manner, the digging unit 9 and the pickup unit 10 are disposed in a practical, end-to-end relation to each other, and are movable, together, with the carriage 7 back and forth across the highway 2, and, after the initial loosening of subgrade material, are simultaneously operable so that they are effective to simultaneously loosen new subgrade material and pick up previously loosened subgrade material, respectively.
The modified form of my machine which I have shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 operates on the same principle as the preferred form of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, and like reference numerals have been used on like parts and the same reference numerals with the suffix a have been used on parts which are similar, but which have been substituted for parts of the preferred form of my invention. All of the changes made in the modified form of my invention over the preferred form as shown are embodied in the rotary unit 54a supported by the auxiliary carriage 23.
It will be noted that the changes made in the modified form of my invention comprise the following, namely, that the rotary unit 54a comprises a plurality of spaced elongated blades 62a mounted on the rings 55-59 in preferably substantially straight helical paths, rather than the serpentine, back and forth path of the blade 62 in the machine 1. The blades 62a preferably have the same cross-sectional shape as the blades 62 and are effective to pick up and dump subgrade material, and the like, upon rotation of the rotary unit 52a in the same manner that the blades 62 operate upon rotation of the rotary unit 54.
It will be seen that the present invention affords a novel earth-moving machine by which subgrade material may be removed from highway surfaces, and the like, in a substantially continuous operation, with the material removed being continuously dumped laterally outwardly of the surface from which it is being removed.
Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords an earth-moving machine, which is well adapted for subgrading operations, and the like, and which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.
Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.