Road-making Machines..
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
Road-making Machines..
I, MORTON GREEN BUNNELL, Mechanic, of the City of Chicago, County of Cook,
and State of Illinois, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
-
My invention relates to road making and road repairing machines in which the
plowing and scraping is effected by a comparatively long blade carried by a wheeled
vehicle. While my invention is particularly applicable to reversible road machines,
that is to say-to machines in which the blade can be swung horizontally about a
point midway of its length so as to either place the blade more or less oblique
to the line of progression or place either of its ends ahead-is also applicable to
non reversible machines in which said feature of horizontal swing or adjustment on
the part of the blade is not present.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 represents in perspective a machine embodying my
invention.
Figure 2, is a top-plan view of the rear portion of the machine with the long rear
axle broken away at its ends so as to omit the rear wheels.
Figure 3, is a side elevation of the matters shown in figure 2, the axle being in
section on line a―a.
Figure 4, is a sectional elevation of figure 2, the section being on line y-y.
Figure 5, is a view similar to figure 2, with the rear platform and side bars
of the body-frame indicated in dotted lines, and with a sprocket on the hand-
wheel shaft in place of the worm drum which is shown in figures 3 and 4. In said
figure 5, the hand-wheel shaft is shown in cross-section, the section being made on a
plane below the hand-wheel.
Figure 6, is a view similar to figure 4, but represents the said sprocket of
figure 5.
In figures 3, 4, and 6, the handwheel shaft is for convenience of illustration broken
away just below the hand-wheel.
Figure 7, represents in perspective one of the adjustable hangers suspended from
one of the T-levers.
Figure 8, shows on a somewhat larger scale a central longitudinal section through
a portion of the hanger and latch.
Figure 9, represents in side elevation the double goose-neck draft-bar, a
portion of the circle, and the segment secured to the circle and carrying the
blade.
Figure 10, is a top-plan of the matters shown in figure 9.
Figure 11, is a section taken on line 2-2 in figure 9 through one of the arms
of the segment, and shows in plan one of the adjustable clips by which the blade is
attached to the segment arms. In said view a portion only of the top edge of the
blade is represented.
Figure 12, shows in perspective a portion of the blade and one of the brackets
secured thereto.
Figure 13, is a section taken through figure 10 on line ¹, the forward portion of
the double goose-neck draft-bar being broken away, while on the other hand, the
circle is completed so as to show the way in which the cog for turning the circle
is supported.
Figure 14, is a section taken through figure 10 on line 2, looking toward the
forward end of the machine, the cross-bar 14 to which the hangers are attached being
added to said view and shown in elevation.
Figure 15, is a top-plan view of the machine.

page_text: Figure 16, represents certain portions of the machine part in side elevation and
part in vertical longitudinal section, and is made to illustrate means by which
an attendant standing on the rear platform 37 can control the latch P in place
of rendering said latch subject to the control of the driver as illustrated in certain
preceding figures.
Figures 17 and 18 are views respectively corresponding with figures 7 and 8 but
illustrating a preferred construction of latch for locking the adjustable or extensible
hanger.
In said drawings, A (Figure 1) indicates the body-frame which is pivotally sup-
ported upon the front axle 1, but so supported upon the rear axle 2 that it can be
shifted along the same.
B indicates the scraper-blade which is attached to the turn-table or circle C through
the medium of the segment D. Said segment is secured to the circle and provided
with downwardly bent arms 3 which are connected with the blade.
The circle is pivotally attached to the draft-bar E so that the blade can be swung
horizontally as may be desired. The draft-bar has its forward end pivotally held at
the front end of the machine so that the blade which is pivotally connected with the
draft-bar can be swung toward either side of the machine as may be desired. The
draft-bar as I term it-consists of a double goose-neck bar which practically
involves a couple of bars 4, each bent upwardly as at 5, to form an arch or goose-
neck which rises from the circle. The two bars 4 of this double goose-neck
draft-bar meet and are rigidly united to one another at their forward ends as
best shown in figure 10 so that they can as a whole be pivotally held by a single
pivot passing through the hole 6. Said bars 4, diverge rearwardly and are
at their rear ends firmly secured to a plate or bar 7 which is pivotally connected
with the circle. The plate or bar 7 rests upon the horizontal stay-bar 8 of the
circle, which said stay-bar is arranged diametrically across the space within the
circle and at its ends suitably secured to the circle either by bolts or by setting within
recesses formed either in castings on the circle or in plates 9 (figures 13 and 14)
secured thereto. At a point forward of the circle the two bars 4 of the double goose-
neck draft-bar are connected together and braced by a bar 10 (figures 9, 10, and 13)
and to said brace-bar 10 is secured the forward end of a longitudinally arranged
bar 11. The ends of the bar 11 are bent upwardly so that while it may extend
under the circle as best shown in figure 13, its forward end can be secured to bar 10
so as to firmly connect it with the double-goose-neck draft-bar, while its rear end
may rise to a height to permit it to provide a bearing for a shaft 12 from which
the circle is operated. By the foregoing arrangement the circle can turn indepen-
dently of the draft-bar which is divided so as to connect with the plate or bar 7.
at opposite sides of the pivot 13 which said pivot it will be observed, extends
through the bars 7, 8, and 11. This spreading apart of the bars or members 4
of the double goose-neck draft-bar not only provides a draft-bar capable of with-
standing the lateral and torsional strains to which it is subjected particularly in
plowing the soil to form new roads, but also more effectively steadies the con-
nection between the circle, the draft-bar, and the hangers F which latter are at
their lower ends pivotally attached to the horizontally arranged cross bar 14.
The cross-bar 14 is secured upon the rear ends of the bars 1 and hence is practically
secured upon the bar or bearing plate 7 to which the circle is pivoted. The bar or
bearing plate 7 which is held rigid with the circle, and connected with the longitu-
dinally arranged plate or bar 11 by the pivot 13, may rest directly upon the bar 11,
or, as in figures 13 and 14, a washer 15 can be arranged between said two bars.
While the bars or divisions 4 of the double goose-neck extend over the circle,
the bar 11 which constitutes an extension of the draft-bar extends under the circle
so that a portion of the latter which is forward of pivot 13 will lie and move between
the bars 4 and 11.
-
The circle carries a ring-gear or part ring-gear 16 which is arranged within
and rigid with the circle and to such end is conveniently bolted to the stay-bar 8.
The short rotary shaft-section 12 is supported by bearings at 17 and 18 upon

page_text: the bar 11, and is provided with a cog 19 which engages the circle-gear 16, so
that by turning said shaft the circle can be turned about the axis of pivot 13.
The rotary shaft section is at point 20 pivotally connected with or jointed to the
hand-wheel shaft G which extends through a bearing 21 on the main-frame and
carries a hand-wheel 22.
The cross-bar 14 is connected with the transversely arranged notched bar H by a
rod or link 23, and said bar I is arranged to slide in bearings 24 on the sides 25
of the body-frame, the connection between rod 23 and bar H being at the point 26.
The slide-bar H for swinging the draft-bar toward either side of the machine is
operated by the hand-lever I which is pivoted upon a swinging fulcrum, 27, which is
supported upon a cross-piece 28 in the body-frame.
The hangers F are connected by universal joints 29 with the T-levers K which
are in tarn pivotally supported upon the standards 30. The T-levers are connected
by rods 31 with the hand-levers Ĺ which are provided with latches 31" for locking in
the rack-segments 32.
Each hanger F comprises a couple of sections 34 and 35, the sections 34 being
connected by the universal joints 29 with the T-levers while the sections 35 are
pivotally connected with the cross-bar H.
The hanger sections 35 slide upon the hanger sections 34 so as to permit each
hanger to be adjusted in length, and as a means for locking said sections together I
provide latches as at M, ono for each hanger. These latches can be operated by rods
or cords 36 which are carried back so as to be available to an attendant standing upon
the rear platform 37. While various forms and constructions of latches can be
employed in connection with the hangers I have shown in figures 7 and 8 a latch
consisting of a pin 38 which is pivoted to a lever 39. The latch lever 39 is pivoted
at 40 to a bearing 41 which is rigid with the hanger-section 35. Said bearing 41
is conveniently formed with or secured to a plate 42 which is bolted to the
hanger section 35 and provided with loops or straps 43 and 44 which embrace
the hanger section 34 so that while keeping the two hanger sections together, the
lower hanger section 35 may slide along the upper hanger section 34.
The hanger section 34 is provided with a line of recesses 45 in which the latch
proper 38 may engage, and the loop 44 is preferably provided with a recess in which
the latch can engage when it is in position to lock the two parts of the hanger
together. The lower langer section is also provided with a hole through which the
latch can pass so that the parts can be held firmly together. As a matter of course
the latch could be arranged upon the upper hanger section and in such case the
lower hanger section would be provided with the holes or recesses 45. By operating
the latch so as to unlock the lower hanger section, the latter will be drawn down by
the weight of the blade should the latter be at such time sufficiently elevated, and this
elevation of the blade can be attained by swinging back the hand-levers 1. In such
case, the extent to which the blade can drop will determine the extent to which the
hanger or hangers can be adjusted in length, it being obvious that since one end of
the blade can be raised and lowered independently of the other, the hand-levers can
be set so that either or both hangers can be lengthened. The shortening up of the
hangers can be effected by a reverse operation. Thus, if it is desired to shorten up
both hangers, the attendant standing on the rear platform, can operate the latches so
as to unlock the lower hanger sections from the upper hanger sections and then
throw forward the hand-levers I, which said operation will through the medium of
the rods 31 and levers K (whether the latter be T-levers or ordinary bell-cranks)
force down the upper hanger sections 34. Assuming the blade to be resting upon
the ground, said downward movement of the upper hanger sections will of course
cause them to slide downwardly upon the lower hanger section, in which way the
hangers can be shortened up and their sections then locked together by the latches.
In a similar way, ono hanger can be shortened independently of the other hanger,
and hence one end of the blade can be readily hung lower than the opposite.end
thereof. The segment D is formed by an angle or T-iron bar which is bent so as to
form a segmental or semi-circular portion which embraces a portion of the circle C.

page_text: and downwardly extending curved arms 3 which are arranged back of the blade.
These arms 3 are reinforced by bent angle or T-irons 3ª, which are fitted to the arms 3
so as to form arms which are T-shaped in cross-section, and which serve to withstand
the great strain to which they are subjected. It will be seen that the union of the
horizontal portion of the segment with the angle or T-iron circle provide in effect
an I-iron while the union of the reinforcing pieces 3" with the arms 3 of the segment
attains a like result from the points where said arms leave the circle. As a means
for varying the pitch of the blade it is hinged at a suitable distance above its lower
edge to the lower ends of the segment arms as at 46 (figure 9) wherein one of said
arms is shown, and at or near its upper edge adjustably connected with said segment
arms. As a means for thus adjustably connecting the blade with the segment arms I
provide each arm with a two part clip N (best shown in figure 11) which is arranged
upon the arm with its two parts bolted together thereon by bolts 47. These clips are
adjustably secured upon brackets, 48, which are in turn secured upon the back of the
blade as best illustrated by the bracket shown in figure 12. Each bracket 48 is
provided with a notch 49 shaped to receive one of the reinforced arms of the segment,
so as to provide a steady connection between the blade and the segment and at the
same time permit the blade to turn upon the pivots or hinges at 46. As a simple
mode of adjustably securing the clips to the brackets, each bracket is provided with
a line of bolt holes 50, for a bolt 51 which can engage the clip and extend through
any one of the holes in a bracket.
The circle can be locked against turning by a latch P. The inner edge of the
lower flange of the upper portion 52 of the segment (figure 13) is notched so that
the latch may engage therewith and the bar 11 is provided with an opening 53
through which the lower end of the latch may extend. The latch is pivoted on a
bracket 54 (figure 13) which is secured to the cross-bar 10 of the double goose-neck
draft-bar. In several of the figures, the latch operating rod 55 is extended forward
to and connected with foot-lever 56 which can be operated by the foot of the driver.
The body-frame is supported upon the rear axle through the medium of small
rolls R which are journalled in boxes S and arranged to lie upon the axle so that they
may travel along the same and thereby permit the body-frame to be shifted toward
either rear wheel with great ease. The side bars 25 of the body-frame are supported
upon and secured to the boxes S, through which latter the long rear axle 2 extends.
The hand-wheel T is arranged within convenient reach of an attendant standing
upon the rear platform 37, and is secured upon the rotary shaft 57 for which latter
suitable bearings are provided upon the body-frame of the machine. The hand-wheel
shaft 57 is preferably provided at its lower end with a sprocket wheel 58 as in
figures 5 and 6, for a link-belt U, although in place of the sprocket it could be pro-
vided with a spirally grooved drum or worm 59 as shown in full lines in figures 3
and 4 and indicated in dotted lines in figure 2. The chain or link-belt passes about
pulleys 60 which are journalled in the boxes S, while in figures 2, 3, and 4, said link
helt also passes about pulleys 61 which are arranged in front of the pulleys 60 and
journalled in a suitable portion of the body-frame. The chain or link-belt U is also
suitably connected with the rear axle, as for example a collar, 62 is made rigid with
the axle and provided with a bolt or arm 63 which engages the link-belt, so that
while connecting the chain or belt with the axle it also keeps the axle from turning.
By such arrangement the rotation of the hand-wheel shaft either way will operate the
chain gearing comprising the chain and two or more pulleys so as to shift the body-
frame along the rear axle.
As a means for locking the body-frame after it has been suitably adjusted I provide
a latch V consisting of a notched bar arranged to rise and fall in guides 64 which can
be secured to the underside of the rear platform 37. The latch V can be operated by
a foot-lever 65 which is pivoted to a bearing 63 arranged on the underside of the
platform 37. The foot lever extends up through an opening in said platform so as to
be readily accessible to the foot of the attendant.
The collar or other fixture on the axle as at 62 is adapted for engaging in any one
of the notches of the latch-bar V and hence the axle is practically provided with a

page_text: tooth or suitable fixture which can be engaged by the latch. The attendant can with
his foot operate the foot-lever so as to free the latch from engagement with the rear
axle and then shift the body-frame by turning the hand-wheel T.
With regard to certain details of construction, each box S can be made in one piece
and formed with an opening for the axle 2 and a roll R, and with another opening or
space between its forwardly projecting lugs 67 or lips so as to receive a sprocket
or pulley 60 which can be journalled in said lips. The forward end portion of the
platform 37 is bolted between two cross-bars 68 and 69 (see figures 3 and 4) and the
side bars 25 of the body-frame are secured to the cross-bar 68. One of the bearings
for the hand-wheel shaft 57 can be secured to the cross-bar 68, while another bearing
for said shaft can be secured to the cross-bar 69. Bearings for the pulleys 61 can also
be conveniently applied to the cross-bar 69.
Figures 17 and 18 illustrate a preferred construction of latch for locking the
longitudinally adjustable or extensible hanger in its adjustment. In said figures
the latch is pivotally attached to a spring controlled lever 70 which is pivoted upon
the plate 42. The plate 42 is rigid with the hanger-section 35 and is provided with a
guard or keeper 71 for steadying the lever 70 and holding a spring 72 in engagement
therewith. The plate 42 or practically the hanger section 35 is provided with a
perforated strap or loop 44 which corresponds with loop 44 in figures 7 and 8. The
hanger-section 34 is provided with a strap or loop 73 which embraces the hanger-
section 35. By the foregoing arrangement of loops or keepers 44 and keepers 44 and 73
The latch 38
the two sections of a hanger cannot become accidentally separated.
is operated by a rod 74 which extends back to the rear platform and connects with a
crank arm 75 on a treadle 76.
While I have in certain figures illustrated a connection between latch P and a foot-
lever arranged within reach of the driver, I have in figure 16 shown an improved
arrangement by which the latch can be operated by the foot of an attendant standing
on the rear platform 37. To such end I connect with the lower end of latch På
slide rod 75 which is subject to the action of a spring 76 and supported in guides 77
carried by the rear extension 11 of the draft-bar. The rod 75 is connected by a
universal joint at 78 with a rod 79 which latter extends back to and is connected with
a bell-crank treadle 80. Said treadle 80 is pivotally supported upon the rear platform
and is connected with the rod by a hinge or universal joint as at 81. By such arrange-
ment the lever 80 is connected with the latch by a universally jointed rod comprising
the rods or rod-sections 75 and 79, so that said connection can adapt itself to the
various movements of the draft-bar.
The. bar H can be locked by a latching rod 82 provided at its forward end with a
latch and at its rear end connected with a foot treadle 83.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention. and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The segment secured about a pivotally supported circle and provided with down-
wardly bent arms to which the blade is attached.
2. The blade hinged to the lower portions of the downwardly bent segment arms
and at points above its hinged connections attached to the segment arms by adjustable
connections.
3. The extensible hangers for raising and lowering the blade.
4. The elevated T-levers from which the hangers are suspended, and hand levers
connected with the T-levers to operate the same.
5. The double goose-neck draft-bar arranged for drawing the blade.
6. The latch device for locking the circle against rotation.
7. The draft-bar baving its rear portion extended over and under the circle.
8. A gear of less radius than the circle arranged within and secured to the circle,.
and a cog engaging said gear.
9. The jointed rotary shaft gear connected with the circle.
10. The body-frame adjustable along the rear axle and a chain gearing for effecting
such adjustment of the body-frame.

page_text: 11. The cross-bar 14 secured to the draft-bar and suspended by hangers.
12. The transversely arranged slide bar H supported by the body-frame and a con-
nection between said slide bar and the draft-bar.
13. The blade shifting mechanism provided with a lever which is pivoted upon a
swinging fulcrum.
14. A latch arranged for locking the blade shifting mechanism and connected with
a foot treadle at the rear of the machine.
15. The latch device for locking the extensible hangers in their adjustment.
16. The universal joints from which the hangers are suspended.
17. The rollers arranged upon the rear axle and supporting the rear portion of
the body-frame.
18. A swinging draft-bar pivoted at its forward end, the circle pivotally attached to
the draft-bar, and the segment secured to the circle and carrying a blade.
Dated this 13th day of May 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.