Patent GB-563474-A (GB)
Title: An improved machine for loading and transporting material
IPC: E02F3/348
Filed: 1942-05-22
Abstract: 563,474. Load-handling machines. EIMCO CORPORATION. May 22, 1942, No. 6995. Convention date, Jan. 14, 1942. [Classes 78 (iii) and 78 (iv)] [Also in Group XXXI] A mobile machine for loading and transporting material comprises a power source, a material lifting device, a pair of running gear units (e.g. two sets of road wheels, one at each side of the machine) and transmission gear comprising a train of gears including a clutch for transmitting power to the material lifting device, two trains of gears each including an independently-engageable clutch, one of the trains being connected to each of the running gear units, and a train of gears connecting the power source jointly to the two trains of gears and including a pair of alternately engageable clutches for driving the two trains of gears in forward or reverse direction. The machine is steerable by braking or driving through one only of the independently engageable clutches and the braking means can also act to brake the movement of the machine. The material-lifting device, a swing- ing bucket, can be operated at all times independently of the locomotion, steering and braking means and can be held in any position, or its movement braked, by a brake-band acting on the clutch connecting it to the transmission gear. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a one-piece cast steel frame 100 mounted on power-driven wheels 101, 101a and carrying an engine in a housing 102 or an electric motor in a housing 102<1>, a loading bucket 103, a transport hopper 104 and a gear train for transmitting power from the engine for locomotion and steering and for operating the loading bucket. The bucket which with its operating members, is similar to that described in Specification 404,804, [Group XXI], is mounted on a rocker arm 117 connected by a hoist chain 119 to a winding reel 108 while the hopper 104 is mounted on brackets 122. attached to side plates 113, 113a and other brackets integral with the main frame 100 and has a swingable, latch-controlled dump door 123. Mudguards 114, 115 and an operator's platform 116 are carried by side plate 113. The front wheels are carried by members 109 109a slidable in guides in the main frame and pivotally mounted on the end of an axle 110 in turn pivoted in a clevis 105. Transmissions gear.-The transmission gear comprises the locomotion and steering trains and the bucket driving train, each train including common members for connecting the trains to a power supply shaft 301, Fig. 13. This shaft carries a bevel pinion 303 meshing with bevel ring gears 304, 304a carried on sleeves 305, 305a which are mounted for free rotation about a shaft 306. Clutches 310, 310a may couple the sleeves 305, 305a with the shaft 306 for forward or reverse locomotion respectively. A spur gear 311 keyed to shaft 306 meshes with a gear 312, Fig. 15, keyed to a shaft 313 which may be coupled with sleeve gears 314, 314a by spring-loaded clutches 316, 316a respectively for steering or with both sleeve gears for straight locomotion, the sleeve gears meshing with gears 317, 317a keyed to rear wheel drive axles 318, 318a which also drive the front wheels by chains engaging sprockets 113b on each wheel. Sleeve 305a, Fig. 13, is formed with a gear 321 meshing with a gear 322, Fig. 15, keyed to shaft 323 having at one end a power take-off fitting 327 and adapted to be coupled at its other end with a sleeve gear 325 by a clutch 328. Gear 325 meshes with a gear 329 keyed to the bucket drive-shaft 330. The entire gear train is supported and enclosed within a central compartment formed between the gear housing section 200, Fig. 15, of the main frame and a cover 250 bolted thereto, an oil-tight gear-box thus being provided, all the clutches being contained in dry compartments accessible by removable closures. Control levers 105, 106, Fig. 1, operate respectively the locomotion and steering assembly, and the bucket assembly, while a pedal 107 operates a brake assembly. Locomotion and steering control.-The control lever 105, Fig. 16, is rockable parallel and at right-angles to the plate 113, parallel movement operating, through a link 405, an arm 406 on a rock-shaft 407 which passes into the gearcasing 200. Cams keyed on the shaft engage the ball ends of clutch-actuating levers so that rotation of the shaft brings into operation one or other of the clutches 310, 310a, Fig. 13, for forward or reverse locomotion. Neither clutch is engaged when lever 105 is in neutral position. Movement of lever 105 at right-angles to plate 113 rotates a rod 415 and moves lengthwise a rod 419 in the gear-casing to disengage one or other of the clutches 316, 316a, Fig. 15, for steering purposes.. Bucket control.-The bucket is operated by control lever 106, Fig. 20, connected by a link 503 and arm 504 to a rotatable shaft 505 which passes through the gear casing and has a cam keyed thereto engaging the ball end of a lever controlling the clutch 328, Fig. 15, operating the winding-reel 108. A lug 512, Fig. 23, on the shaft 505 is connected by an arcuate link 513 to one end of a brake band 514 encircling the drum of clutch 328, the other end of the band being connected to a rod 515 adjustably secured to gear-casing cover 250. The outside arm 518, Fig. 20, of a crank lever pivotally mounted in side plate 113 carries an offset lug 519 projecting into the path of lever 106, the inside arm 520 of the crank lever carrying an adjustable stop 521 in the path of the bucket rocker arm 117. Movement of control. lever 106 to the right, Fig. 20, into contact or near contact with lug 519 rocks shaft 505 to engage clutch 328 and actuate winding reel 108 to elevate bucket 103. When bucket arm 117 strikes stop 521, lug 519 returns lever 106 to neutral position. Movement of the bucket may be braked or bucket held in any position by movement of control lever 106 to the left causing engagement of brake band 515 with clutch 328. Brake assembly.-The brake assembly shown in Figs. 24 and 26 controls brakes for steering and stopping the machine by manipulation of a single control pedal 107. The drums of clutches 316, 316a are surrounded by brake bands 601, 601a, the ends of which are connected to toggles 603, 603a on toggle arms 604, 604a joined by links 605, 605a to arms 606, 606a keyed respectively to a sleeve 611 and to a rod 607, the sleeve being rotatable on the rod. Brake pedal arms keyed respectively to the rod 607 and sleeve 611 have their outer ends pivoted to the pedal 107 so that rocking of the pedal tightens one or other brake-band to brake the wheels on one side or other of the machine while horizontal depression of the pedal actuates both brakes uniformly. The pedal may be locked in the depressed position by a ratchet bar 617.