Abstract:
A portable self-powered load conveyer is structured on a wheeled frame with a drive-over ramp feature allowing ground level loading of bulk materials. Pivotally attached to the wheeled frame, is an elevator with height adjustment mechanics for depositing the bulk materials as required at a higher level. The wheeled frame is equipped with retractable street wheels and a tow hitch for moving the conveyer from job site to job site by towing. Dual sets of positionable wheels, also on the frame, allows backward, forward, turning, and sideways self-powered movement of the conveyer assemblage around the job site. The self-powering is accomplished by an installed internal combustion engine and controlled hydraulic pressurized mechanics. The control arrangement allows for the entire conveyer assemblage to be managed by a single operator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to mobile elevating conveyers of the type used commonly for unloading bulk materials from a bottom dump carrier and loading the bulk materials into the hopper of a second transport vehicle. These conveyers are also used to unload bulk materials from a carrier and to stockpile the bulk materials in a desired ground location or inside of a storage shelter. The bulk materials handled may be organic or inorganic such as rice and nuts or sand and gravel. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A study of the past-art patents in classes and subclasses 198/304, 306, 311, 313, and 318 does not disclose a self-propelled elevator-conveyer of similar disposition to the present invention. The patents examined which seemed most pertinent to the present invention included the following: 
     U.S. Patents numbered: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,387,189 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,556 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,888 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,858 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,480 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,143,189 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,546 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,364 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,241 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,432 
     Canadian Pat. No.: 
     1,065,784 
     None of the devices disclosed in the above listed patents were of a nature which would interfere with the successful prosecution for letters patent on the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome many operational deficiencies seen in the past-art patents, the present invention is particularly directed towards a self-propelled apparatus with controls for complete management of the conveyer by a single operator. Mechanics are included for raising and lowering the load angle of the elevator, raising and lowering the support structure, maintaining vertical alignment on uneven ground, being self-powered, able to move omni-directional by means of mechanics in a specialized wheel assemblage; and equipped with a low-profile drive-over loading ramp. 
     Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled elevator conveyer with multi-use provisions. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load conveyer with a low profile drive-over loading ramp which can be readily positioned for accepting bottom dump loads from trucks, from railroad cars, and from other conveyances. 
     A further object of my invention is to provide a load conveyer with means for adjusting the angle of the elevating belt through lift mechanics applied to the belt support super-structure from a support base affixed with a wheel assemblage. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-powered load conveyer with a wheel assemblage affixed with mechanics for raising and lowering the base support structure to allow omni-directional movement of the entire elevator structure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a truck and railroad car load conveyer with road-type tired street wheels and a towing attachment so the conveyer can be conveniently towed by truck from job site to job site. 
     A further objective of the invention is to provide a self-powered load conveyer with mechanics and controls so the conveyer assemblage can be completely operated at the job site for movement and for elevating loads by a single operator. 
     Many other objects and the advantages of my invention will become obvious by reading the specification and considering the numbered parts listed in conjunction with like numbered parts shown on the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 shows the load conveyer assemblage of the present invention in a side view with an enlargement of the control station. 
     FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the conveyer towards the drive-over ramp at the ramp-end lift frame showing the elevator raised and the top positioned catwalk. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the operational mechanics of the drive-over ramp unique to the present invention with A showing the receiver side panels down in drive-over position and B showing the receiver side panels up for material retention on the belt. 
     FIG. 4 shows the load conveyer assemblage of FIG. 1 in a reverse side view illustrating the self-propelling powering means, an internal combustion engine, and the pressurized fluid station supplying hydraulic fluid for motor and ram operations. 
     FIG. 5 shows the load conveyer in a view oppositely from FIG. 2 illustrating the underside of the raised elevator section with the rear lift frame predominate showing how the wheels of the rear and the front lift frames can cooperatively adjust for one ground level and ground surface at A and for another at B. 
     FIG. 6 shows the load conveyer assemblage of FIG. 1 illustrating the elevator raising and lowering mechanical capabilities. 
     FIG. 7 shows the load conveyer assemblage of the present invention in a top plan view. 
     FIG. 8 shows the load conveyer in use with the drive-over ramp positioned under a dump bottom truck and the conveyer elevating bulk materials into a gondola railroad car. 
     FIG. 9 shows the load conveyer in a use where the drive-over ramp has been backed up under the dump bottom of a gondola railroad car the conveyer is elevating bulk materials into the container of a truck. 
     DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     10 main frame 
     12 drive-over ramp 
     14 hand railing and support bracing for elevator 
     16 elevator 
     18 ramp receiver side panels 
     20 hooded chute 
     22 conveyer belt 
     24 head roller 
     26 nose roller 
     28 return belt retainers 
     30 tired idler wheel 
     32 slide shoes 
     34 conveyer belt support panel 
     36 main power unit, internal combustion engine 
     38 hydraulic pump 
     40 hydraulic supply tank 
     42 fuel supply tank 
     44 hydraulic motor 
     46 control station 
     48 street wheels 
     50 wheel set hydraulic cylinder 
     52 elevator positioning hydraulic cylinder 
     54 vertical wheel positioning hydraulic cylinders 
     56 vertical slide wheel lift frames 
     58 vertical slide wheel supports 
     60 free pivoting dual wheel set 
     62 hydraulically motored dual wheel set 
     64 hydraulically motored dual wheel set 
     66 rigidly positioned dual wheel set 
     68 pivotal idler roller 
     70 chute boot 
     72 rear idler roller 
     74 transport pull hitch 
     76 side panels control lever 
     78 two-sided elevator base frame 
     80 elevator belt cover and catwalk 
     82 forward move hydraulic control valve 
     84 reverse move hydraulic control valve 
     86 wheel set 20 forward/reverse control valve 
     88 wheel set 27 forward/reverse control valve 
     90 elevator and catwalk repositioning control valve 
     92 street wheels up/down hydraulic control valve 
     94 dual wheel sets 28 and 29 up/down control valve 
     96 dual wheel set 27 up/down control valve 
     98 dual wheel set 26 up/down control valve 
     100 elevator to main frame pivotal hinge link 
     102 optional utility ladder 
     104 operator&#39;s seat 
     106 up and down movement indicator 
     108 directional movement indicators 
     110 turning movement indicators 
     112 bottom dump bulk carrier truck 
     114 truck hopper 
     116 truck bottom dump chute 
     117 bottom dump railroad hopper car 
     118 railroad hopper car dump chute 
     120 bulk materials 
     122 control stand platform 
     124 internal combustion engine control 
     126 rpm regulator throttle 
     127 hydraulic input lines 
     128 hydraulic feeder lines 
     130 radiator 
     132 control valve panel 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings at FIG. 1 where the portable truck and railroad car load conveyer constituting the present invention is shown in a side view of the load conveyer assemblage and includes an enlarged view of the control station 46. In FIG. 1, main frame 10, constructed of steel tubing, is the basic conveyer support structure. Drive-over ramp 12, the load receiver, is a ground oriented continuation of main frame 10. Elevator 16 is the material moving structure and is connected to main frame 10 at a material receiving end by elevator to main frame pivotal hinge link 100 and the opposite end, the material distributing end, is free to be moved upwards and downwards by elevator positioning hydraulic cylinder 52 controlled at control station 46 by elevator and catwalk repositioning valve 90. 
     Conveyer belt 22 is affixed longitudinally in two-sided elevator base frame 78 to ride freely along conveyer belt support panel 34 as a continuous loop around head roller 24 and rear idler roller 72 in the end section of drive-over ramp 12. Idler roller 72 is accessible through protective cover 68. Tired idler wheel 30, bracketed to revolve and wade through conveyed material in the mouth of the material receiving end of elevator 16, presses down and holds conveyer belt 22 properly positioned. Conveyer belt 22 returning under support panel 34 is confined closely between the two sections of two-sided elevator base frame 78 by nose roller 26, return belt retainers 28, and pivotal idler roller 68. Conveyer belt 22, manufactured of suitable belting material, is fastened end-to-end into a continuous loop. A variety of cleating fixtures are designed into the outward faced load conveying side and the inner faced side is frictionally finished for legged matching to a similarly finished head roller 24. Conveyer belt 22 is motivated by hydraulic motor 44 attached to head roller 24 positioned upwardly at the movable material distributing end of elevator 16 to two-sided elevator base frame 78 at the terminal end. Head roller 24 is lagged outside for friction mating with and the powering of conveyer belt 22. Hydraulic motor 44 supplied by hydraulic feeder line 128 powers head roller 24 and is the prime mover for conveyer belt 22. Hooded chute 20 adjacent head roller 24 directs conveyed material into truck hopper 114 through chute boot 70, a rugged flexible fabric tubular open-ended sack, which contains product flow and minimizes dust migration. 
     Tired idler wheel 30 is bracket mounted to two-sided elevator base frame 78 at the elevator feeder end of drive-over ramp 12 and wades through materials passing along conveyer belt 22 to hold the center of conveyer belt 22 down at the beginning of the incline. Also, to hold the sides of conveyer belt 22 down, slide shoes 32 are installed in the two-sided elevator base frame 78 adjacent idler wheel 30. Drive-over ramp 12 is a ground paralleling pan-type material receiver attached as a continuation of main frame 10 at the loading end of elevator 16. Conveyer belt 22 is exposed for material loading in the opened top of drive-over ramp 12. Ramp receiver side panels 18 controlled by side panel control lever 76 can be lowered when bottom dump bulk carrier truck 112 is driven over drive-over ramp 12 to position truck bottom dump chute 116 for discharging bulk materials 120. After truck bottom dump chute 116 is in place, ramp receiver side panels 18 are raised upwards by side panel control lever 76 to keep dumping bulk materials 120 directively contained on conveyer belt 22. The drawings at FIG. 3 illustrate drive-over ramp 12 with side panel control lever 76 positioned so ramp receiver side panels 18 are in the down or drive-over position at A. At B in FIG. 3, side panel control lever 76 is in position so ramp receiver side panels 18 are in the raised attitude to provide a hopper-like director for materials deposited on conveyer belt 22. 
     Elevator cover and catwalk 80, a protective covering for materials moving up on conveyer belt 22 and a walkway for the operator, can be seen best in FIG. 2. Hand railing and support bracing for elevator 14 are dual purpose in that supporting framework for elevator 16 is included in the hand rails and the catwalk is available so the operator can walk up to the load depositing end of the raised elevator 16 using the hand rail and then climb down by optional utility ladder 102 to the top of gondola railroad car 117 to open cargo receiving tops. With other types of elevator equipment, the operator would be obliged to scale the railroad car sidewall to gain the hopper top. 
     The portability and versatility of the present invention can be understood by examining numbered parts in the drawings illustrating the main power unit 36, an internal combustion engine, preferably diesel; hydraulic pump 38, a positive displacement type fluid pump solidly coupled to main power unit 36; hydraulic supply tank 40; fuel supply tank 42; hydraulic motor 44, driver for conveyer belt 22; wheel set hydraulic cylinder 50 which raises and lowers street wheels 48. Hydraulic fluid is cooled in radiator 130 and the main powering unit, internal combustion engine 36, as illustrated in the drawings, is an air-cooled diesel engine. The raising and lowering of the discharge end of elevator 16, accomplished by elevator positioning hydraulic cylinder 52, is illustrated in FIG. 6 and shown by up and down movement indicators 106. The crab-like versatility in the ground movement capabilities of the present invention is shown best in FIG. 7 by directional movement indicators 108 and turning movement indicators 110. 
     The variety of movements the load conveyer of the present invention is capable of is accomplished by hydraulically operated sets of wheels which can be raised and lowered and powered as need. The mechanics for the forward-backwards, circling, and sideways movements are included in vertical wheel positioning hydraulic cylinders 54; vertical side wheel lift frames 56; vertical side wheel supports 58; free pivoting dual wheel set 60; hydraulically motored dual wheel set 62; hydraulically powered dual wheel set 64; and rigidly positioned dual wheel set 66. The hydraulic motors and cylinders are controlled at control station 46 as illustrated enlarged in FIG. 1. The controls include forward move hydraulic control valve 82, reverse move hydraulic control valve 84, wheel set 20 forward/reverse control valve 86, wheel set 27 forward/reverse control valve 88, elevator and catwalk repositioning control valve 90, street wheels 48 up/down hydraulic control valve 92, dual wheel sets 28 and 29 up/down control valve 94, dual wheel set 27 up/down control valve 96; and dual wheel set 26 up/down control valve 98. Pressurized hydraulic input lines 127 supply activated hydraulic fluid to the control valve panel 132. Hydraulic feeder lines 128 distribute controlled pressurized hydraulic fluid to the various hydraulic motors and hydraulic cylinders or rams. 
     An operator&#39;s seat 104 and a control stand platform 122 are included at control station 46. All necessary functional controls are positioned at control station 46, see FIG. 1 enlargement of control station 46, and one uniqueness of this device is that on the job site, all movements of the load conveyer can be conducted by a single operator. 
     The versatility of the dual wheel sets in vertically positioning elevator 16 on uneven ground is illustrated in FIG. 5 on slanted ground at A and on uneven ground at B. In FIG. 7, a top plan view of the loader assemblage, the various numbered parts can be seen with directional movement indicators 108 and turning movement indicators 110 showing the different ways the entire machine can accomplish self-propelled movements. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, the load conveyer can be used as a drive-over bulk materials 120 receiver from the truck bottom dump chute 116 of bottom dump bulk carrier truck 112 and loaded by elevator 16 into the hopper of bottom dump railroad hopper car 117. Or the ground paralleling drive-over ramp 12 can be backed under bottom dump railroad hopper car 117 so railroad hopper car dump chute 118 is positioned to load bulk materials 120 between ramp receiver side panels 18 onto conveyer belt 22 and be deposited in truck hopper 114 of bottom dump bulk carrier truck 112 as illustrated in FIG. 9. It is noted that the conveyer assemblage of the present invention is highly efficient and cost saving in that controlled by a single operator it can be moved sideways along bottom dump railroad hopper car 117 to reposition drive-over ramp 12 to unload from additional railroad hopper car dump chutes 118 as each section is emptied. 
     The load conveyer of the present invention is highly portable in that for highway movement from job site to job site, street wheels 48 are lowered by wheel set hydraulic cylinder 50 and the entire conveyer assemblage can be towed by a truck hitched to transportation pull hitch 74. 
     Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention with considerable details in the specification, it is to be understood that I may practice variations in the structure and design so long as changes made do not exceed the intended scope of the appended claims.