US1738211A - Material-moving apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dern 3, 1929. J B, SCHUB 1,738,211

MATERIAL MOVING APPARATUS Dec. 3; 1929. J. B. scHAUB 1,738,211

MATERIAL MOVING APPARATUS Filed June 23. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f Z157, Z. ff

['72 fenelozfa' einen Week DGC- 3,1929 J. B. scHAUB 1,738,211

MATERIAL MOVING 'PPARATUS Filed June 23. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ian' Dec- 3, 1929- J. B. scHAuB 1,738,211

MATERIAL MOVING' APPARATUS Filed June 2s. 1927 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES B. SCHAUB, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO T. W. SNOW CONSTRUCTION CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OBE ILLINOIS MATERIAL-MOVING APPARATUS Application filed June 23,

My invention relates to material-moving apparatus, in general; but more especially to apparatus in which the material to be moved is positioned in a hopper from which the material is dischargeable to material-moving means, as tor example a movable receptacle, for transferring the material to another location, as tor example from a hopper located below a railroad track and provided to receive cin'ders from a locomotive, to a point et discharge above a cinder-receiving car.

My primary object generally stated is to provide novel and simple improvements in apparatus ot the general character above stated to the end that the apparatus may be rendered more compact and more eco noinical et construction and function in an improved manner. Certain of my specific objects are to provide such a construction oit apparatus of the general character' stated, and in which the movable receptacle is caused to travel from a substantially horizontal path through a substantially vertical path, that it will occupy the minimum amount of space, which is of especial importance where the apparatus is used as a part of railway track equipment where it is necessary to conserve `space to the maximum; to provide a construction of apparatus ol the general character stated in which the various tracks including those by which the receptacle is caused to become positioned for dumping, are arranged, at each side ot the apparatus in alignment, thereby economizing in the `cost ot' construction; to provide for a simple arrange ment of tracks of such torni that the receptacle may move to dumping position, without requiring the rollers thereon to bebitset laterally relative to each other,` and without involving the movement ot the rollers in intersecting paths; to provide an arrangement ot parts whereby cross-shafts for guiding rollers so positioned as to be engaged by the material discharged into the bucket, are dispensed with; to provide such a construction of bucket of the type adapted to receive the material when positioned on its side and when turned on its end to retain and carry the material, that it affords a chute portion at its discharge end and in use the spilling ot 1927. Serial No. 200,993.

the material from the bucket in the loading thereof and its movement toward dischargmg position, will be prevented; to provide a bucket of this type of such form and con struction `that the curved portions of the tracks along which it moves from filling to raising position, may be made relatively abrupt and thereby econoinize in the space occupied by the apparat-us; to provide such a type ot' bucket in which allowance for variations in the angle at which the material becomes reposed in the bucket at the discharge en'd thereof, to avoid spilling of the contents of the bucket, may be reduced to the minimum, and thus permit ot the use ot a relatively short bucket for any given load, thereby not only reducing the cost of constructing the bucket but also aiding, as one of the factors, in permitting oi the use oi abruptly curved track portions at the lower ends of the upwardly extending tracks; to provide for such au arrangement of tracks and cooperating bearing members on the bucket in an apparatus ofthe general type above stated, that the discharge, chute, portion of the bucket may be caused to extend outwardly from the track-equipped tower portion a relatively great distance, in the discharging position of the bucket, without requiring the supporting ot the load oi the bucket at any time at a relatively great distance from the upwardly extending tracks and the supportingot' this load closely adjacent to, and preferably within, the contines of the tower, in the final dumping position of the bucket; and other objects as will be manifest from the following Idescription As a preface to the following description, it may be stated that I have devised my improvements for embodiment, more particm larly, in soscalled cindering apparatus, adapted to receive, and dispose of, the cinders discharged from locomotives during the cleaning out of the fire boxes thereof,v and thereafter elevate the cinders to a point et discharge above a track upon which the cinder-recevng car runs, and have, therefore, chosen to illustrate it in such an apparatus.`

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of a plant of the character stated and embodying my improvements.v Figure 2 is an enlarged broken section taken at the irregular line 2-2 on Fig. l and viewed in the dip rection of the arrows. Figure 3 is a broken view in side elevation of the tower portion of the apparatus. Figure 4 is an enlarged plan sectional view of the three tracks shown in Fig. 3, the section being taken at the line 4-4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is a view like Fig. 1 of a modification of the structure shown therein; and Figure 6, a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, that portion of the apparatus which is shown in elevation being viewed from the left-hand side of this figure and that part which is shown in section being viewed along the line 6-6 on Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.`

In the particular arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, a railway track for receiving the locomotives tojbe discharged of their cinders, is represented at 10 and a track upon which the cinder-receiving ear is to run,

at11. vLocated below the track 10 is a pit 12 which extends laterally beyond this track at both sides thereof. Located in the space between the rails forming the track 10, and positioned in the upper part of the pit 12, is a hopper 13 into which the cinders discharged from the locomotives positioned thereover,

' dump, the bottom of this hopper being open to provide a .discharge outlet controlled by gates as hereinafter described. f

The receptacle for receiving the cinders from the hopper 13, and shown in the form Voffa bucket,`is represented at 14, its upper side, considering thebucket as positioned on `its side'for filling, being open part way from the right-.hand en'dlthereofin' Fig. 1, to receive therethrough the cinders from the hopper, when' the bucket is positioned beneath the latter as shown'inFig. 1. The bucket 14 is movable, under control, in a direction crosswise of the track 10 and upwardly in Vrighted condition along a tower portion 15 in s aced relation to, the opposite sides of the buc ret land above the lower side of the bucket, viewing it in Fig. 1, as shown in this figure and in Fig. 2, these rollers being shown as journalled on a shaft 16a, secured in any suitable way, to the bottom portion of the bucket. The side of the bucket opposite that containing the opening through which the material is discharged into the bucket, and which side extends lowermost when the bucket is positioned as shown in Fig. l, inelines toward the opposite, open, side thereof,

namely, upwardly in Fig. 1, as represented located at opposite sides thereof with their upper surfaces (in Fig. 1) approximately in 'line with the upper surfaces of the rollers 18, all of the rollers 16, 18 and 20 being in alignment at opposite sides of the bucket as shown in Fig. 2.

The various rollers referred to cooperate with supporting and guiding double rail tracks which are located in the pit 12 and extend upwardly therefrom into the tower portion 15, these tracks being represented at 21, 22 and 23 and located at opposite sides of the pit and tower. The portions of these tracks which are located in the pit and extend beneath and to opposite sides of the hopper 13 are positioned substantially horizontally and parallel with each other in spaced relation as shown. At their forward ends each inclines abruptly upwardly and away from the hopper 13 as represented at 21a, 22a, and 23, the lower ends of these inclined track sections where they connect with the front ends of the horizontal sections thereof being abruptly curved as shown. The upper ends of the inclined track sections 21" and 22a connect with the lower ends of vertical track sections 21b and 22b of the tracks 21 and 22 which extend upwardly in the tower `portion 15 to a point adjacent the upper eX- tremity of the latter. The upper end of the inclined double rail track section 23 connects, at opposite sides of the tower, 4with the lower end of a double rail track section 23h, forming a part of the track 23, the lower end of which, represented at 23C, inclines downwardly and outwardly as shown, and the upper end of which represented at 23d inclines upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a substantially horizontal double track portion 23 located some distance below the upper ends of the track sections 21b and 22h, the portion of the track section 23" intermediate the portions 23 and 23d thereof being vertical and parallel with the track sections 2lb and 22".

Located directly above the track portion 23, at opposite sides of the tower and in spaced parallel relation with this track portion is a double rail track section 24 which extends substantially from the track section 22h to the upper ends of the straight track portion 23d; and located above the track 24, at opposite sides of the tower, is a double rail track ratus may be made very compact, as distin guished from constructions wherein the bucket is required to move through a long sweeping turn in moving into and out of its vertical path of movement, this feature being of particular importance where the apparatus is to be installed along railway roadbeds where the space available for such installations is usually quite meager and further'- more results in reduced cost of construction.

It will be noted that by constructing an apparatus in accordance with my invention the discharge portion of the bucket may be caused to extend laterally beyond the tower as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, a relatively great distance without requiring that the load imposed by the bucket on the supporting structure along which the bucket travels, be supported at any time a relatively great distance from the tower and furthermore permits of the supporting of such load within the confines of the tower in the final dumping of the bucket. This is made possible by reason of the provision of three sets of rollers and the arrangement of the tracks as shown and described, whereby the bucket is supported by the rollers 18 only during the beginning` of the dumping movement and during the latter part of the righting movement of the bucket, and the rollers 20, cooperating with the track 2V, support the bucket during the latter part of the dumping movement and the beginning of the righting movement. The rollers 18 may thus be positioned at a remote distance from the discharge end of the bucket and a track section i3e of relatively short length as shown may be used, as distinguished from a construction in which the bucket is supported throughout its turning movements on a single set of rollers.

As regards the feature of providing the bucket with an inclined side 17, a bucket so formed not only provides a clearance serving the purpose hereinbefore recited, but also reduced the need, in the designing of the bucket, of allowing for as great variations in the angles of repose of the material at the discharge end of the bucket, as is necessary in the case of buckets the corresponding side portion of which, in the filling position of the bucket, extends substantially horizontall it being noted that where such side of the bucket is substantially horizontal the distance therefrom to the top of the material superposed thereon is much greater adjacent the discharge outlet than in the case of a bucket formed in accordance with my invention, this being a matter of considerable practical importance as the angles of repose of different kinds of material and material in different conditions, varies, and allowance therefore must be made in designing the bucket to avoid spillinff of the contents thereof in the movement of the bucket to the pathin which it travels upwardly; this feature also being of importance as it permits of the bucket being made shorter for any given load. An` other advantage resulting from the inclined side wall portion as referred to is that it permits of the loading into the bucket of wet ma terial without the risk of the material running out of the discharge end of the bucket.

Referring to the structure shown in Figs. 5

and 6 and which present-s the features of advantage above pointed out, the arrangement therein shown is substantially the same as that shown in the preceding figures, except that the track portions 21, 22 and 23 instead of being horizontal, incline slightly downwardly away from the tower portion, and a different type of tower and a different hoisting means are provided. The type of tower shown in these figures need not be described inasmuch as it does not constitute any feature of my invention and the construction thereof appears to be obvious. As regards the hoisting mechanism, provision is made for controlling the bucket by a lift cable, as distinguished from the endless sprocket chain arrangement of the preceding figures. This lift cable mechanism comprises cables 100 and 101 which connect with the shaft- 16a at opposite sides of the bucket 14 and thence extend around pulleys 102 and 103 and up* wardly around pulleys 104 and 105, respectively, and thence down to the drum 106 of a hoisting mechanism represented generally at 107, it being understood that the bucket is raised to the dotted dumping posit-ion shown in Fig. 5 by drawing up on the cables 100 and 101, and is permitted to lower to the full line position shown in this figure by slackening these cables.

While I have illustrated and described cer tain particular' embodiments of my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the invention may be utilized in other embodiments withoutl departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a bucket, and bucket guid ing means along which said bucket is movable, so constructed and arranged that when the bucket is in lowermost, filling, position it is positioned on its side and in moving along said means moves toward righted position, one side of said bucket being partly closed and the opposite side thereof inclinin toward said partly closed side and toward the discharge end of the bucket, said partly closed side extending from the base of the bucket upwardly above the beginning of the inclined portion of said opposite side.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a bucket, and bucket guiding means along which said bucket is movable, so constructed and arranged that when the bucket is in lowermost, filling, position it 25 presenting a downwardly and outwardly inclined double rail section ,25,aL which `extends from theltrack' section 22b outward-ly to a pointrin substantial alignment with the trackl section 24, but in vertically spaced relation to theglatter as shown, the rear end oi the track. 25 .terminating `in a kvertical section 2'5", 4

The various track sections referred to are shown as formed of angle irons, the flanges on the track ysections 21 and 22 and the exten sions thereof extending toward each other to form channels; the flanges on the track section 23Y`and the extensions thereof extending yupwardly and toward the track section 22.; the flanges on the track section 24 extending toward the track portion 23d; and the flanges on the track 25 .extending upwardly( .The rollers 16 rollingly fit within the channel provided by the tracks 21and 22k and their extensions; the rollers 18 operate against the track 28 and its extension and the rollers 2(1)-` against the undersides and the outer surfaces of thetraek 22 and its extension'. The arrangement of the, rollers and tracks is such, as described, that in the, movement of the bucket from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward dumping position, the bucket is first moved along a substantially horizontal path Yand as it-s rollers 16 and 18 engage the lower inclined ,portions of the tracks, the bucket is partly righted and upon engaging the vertical portions. of the tracks is fully righted. .Vhen thebucket risesY to a point where its rollers 18 and 20 `engage ythe inclined track 24, the bucket, upon continuing its upward .movement,'tilts outwardly, its rollers 1G continuing their movement through a vertical path between the track portions 21"l and 22".

`The rollers 18, as the rear, or bottom, portion of the bucket continues to rise, move out onto the horizontal portions 28e or' the tracks, and

as the rear, or bottom, portion of the bucket continues to rise, the bucket moves at its outer discharge end back toward the tower, the rollers 2() engaging `with the track 25 and the rollers 18 passing beneath this track so that the bucket in the final elevating move- Vment occupies the dotted line position represented in Fig. 1 in which itdumps its con'- tents yabove the track 11. ln the lowering of the bueketit tilts upwardly at its discharge end, the rollers 2() running out Vonto the track section 25 and the rollers 18 engaging the track portion 28e, and when the rollers 16 in loweringon the tracksv 21 and 22h move below the plane ot the rollers 18, the` latter move down the track section 23d and right t-he bucket which then continues. its downward movement in righted condition until the inclined sections 21, 22a, andI 23av ot the tracks are reached, .whereupon the bucket tilts Vtoward horizontal position which latter position is reached upon the engagement of the rollers with the horizontal portions of the tracks.

The receptacle 14 may be moved into and out of the various positions stated by any suitable hoisting and lowering means such for example as that shown more or less diagrammatically in the drawings and involving a hoisting machine represented generally at 26 which is mounted on the upper end of the tower 15 and drives sprockets 27 at opposite sides ofthe tower over which endless sprocket chains 28 extend. These chains extend downwardly through the tower and engage sprockets 29, 80, 81 and' 32 ournalled on stationary parts of the vapparatus to extend adjacent; the inclined track sections 21, 22, and 28, and terminal sprockets 33 joui-nailed in the pit 12 beyond the point to which the bucket moves, these sprocket-chains being rigidly connected in any desirable way, with the ends of the shaft 16a.

In the operation of the apparatus rotation of the drum 27 in one direction operates to move the bucket 14 from the position shown in Fig. 1 along the tracks and up into dump ing position, and rotation in the opposite direction returns the bucket to the position shown in this ligure, any suitable means, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, beine provided for effecting the drive of this drum in opposite directions ior the purpose stated.

The hopper 13 is preferably provided with valve mechanism of any suitable type, controlling its outlet, that shown comprising sectional swinging gate-valves Bel movable into and out of hopper-closing position and controlled in any suitable manner, as for example rom a revoluble shaft 85 having eccentric connections with valve-operating levers 36 connected with the valves 34, rotation of the shaft 35 in one direction opening the gate valves and rotation in the opposite direction closing these valves.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that all of. the rollers at each side of the bucket, are arranged in the same plane and consequently the tracks with which they cooperate are located in the same plane, due to the fact that none of these rollers are required to cross the path oiz other rollers in the operation of dumping the`bucket, this -feature being desirable from a practica-l standpoint as it simplifies the structure and re- (luces` the cost of construction.

Furthermore, the provision of the rollers as described in combination with the inclining of. the side of the bucket as shown at 17, is ot advantage as the bucket may be caused to make a sharp turn, without obstruction, in moving from the substantially horizontal path through which it moves on its side in the pit, to the substantially vertical path through which it moves, in righted position, in moving in the tower, and thus the appais positioned on its side and in moving along said means moves toward righted position, said bucket having one side partly closed and the opposite side thereof formed of portions extending in diHerent planes, one of said p0rtions inelning toward said partly open side and the discharge end of said bucket, said partly closed side extending from the base of the bucket upwardly above the base of said inclining portion.

JAMES B. SCHAUB.

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