US1898120A - Tie loading device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1933. T, E, FARMER TIE LOADING DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 5 hee 2 INVENTOR,

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Feb. 21, 1933. T. E. FARME R TIE LOADING DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 3 h ts-Sheet 3 a 4 a; g 8

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5 u ma In mm m 8V m EM/ M 6 a n Y B I? 0 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 THOMAS E. FARMER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI TIE LOADING DEVICE Application filed January 19, 1931 Serial No. 509,659.

The present invention pertains to loading structure and particularly that type of apparatus adapted for use in loading railroad ties or logs, and the primary object of the invention is to provide in such a structure, a unique combination of parts adapted to convey ties from a given point to position within a box car.

A further object of the instant invention is the contemplation of a loading structure which includes, with a power driven conveyor, a novel feeding device, a power driven article turning apparatus, a transporting member, extending transversely of said conveyor, and an automatic article dropper; all of which are driven from a common source of power, and handle the articles being loaded without the use of manual labor or further mechanical structures.

A yet further object of the invention is to. provide a loading structure having the above mentioned combination of parts, and in addition, a plurality of'sections which comprise the conveyor, all interlocked and interconnected by novel elements which permit transmitting power from one section to the next and which allow disposing the adjacent sections at any predetermined or required angle.

A large number of minor objects contemplated by this invention will appear during the course of the detailed specification, wherein specific reference will be made to parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete loading structure made in accordance with.

this invention. v

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the relation of conveyor, transporting member, article turning apparatus and dropper.

Fig. 4:lS an enlarged detailed side eleva tion of the feeding device, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 5- is a plan view of the feeding device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical central section through the same taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section through the feeding device taken on line VIIVII of Fig. 4. v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing a portion of the feeding device in two extreme positions.

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section through the feeding device illustrating the article being conveyed in two positions. g F igJlO is a detailed view showing the pivco otally interconnected conveyor sections.

Fig. 11 is a detail of the interlocking connections between conveyor sections taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 3. r I

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the detail '65 assembly of F ig. 11.

Fig. 13'is a detailof the locking member associated with each interlocking connection.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal ver- I tical section illustrating the article turning apparatus taken. on line XIV-XIV of F s- 3- a Fig; 15 is a longitudinal vertical section through the automatic dropper taken online XVXV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross section through the dropper taken on line XVIXVI of Fig. 3, and, y r

Fig. 17 is a detailed, fragmentary, vertical sectionthrough the end of the dropper showing the automatic'releasing mechanism in two positions.

While a loading structure made in accordance with this invention must be constructed and used as a Complete assembly, S5 the same is formed of a plurality of units, each of which will be separated from the rest and described without reference to the others. Like reference characters will be used to designate similar parts throughout all the views of the drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates generally, and in a diagrammatical manner, ause to which the load ing structure may be placed. In this im stance. it is desired to convey ties, hereinafter designated as the article or articles 20, to a box car 22 froma point remote therefrom. To carry out this duty in accordance with the present invention,the loading structure must include'a feeding device 24, a conveyor 26, a power-driven article turning apparatus 28, a transporting member 30 and an automatic dropper 32. These units of the entire mechanism act upon the article 20 in the sequence as mentioned, and each has a unique structure, especially adapted to handle article 20 in a manner which facilitates loading and in a fashion which coacts with the remaining units of the loading structure.

Feeding device Feeding device 24 forms a portion of the length of conveyor 26 and has means for feeding an article to the power-driven rollers 34 one at a time from each side respectively. To perform this duty, frame 36 of feeding device 24 supports on each side, a pair of inclined guides 38, along which slides article 20 after it has been placed thereon. All rollers 34 of conveyor 26 and transporting member 30 are driven from a single source of power, not here shown, by its connection to a pulley wheel 40, rigidly secured to one end of a projected shaft supporting one of the plurality of rollers 34. As illustrated, each roller 34 is provided with a multiplicity of spurs 42 which engage the article 20 as it is moved along. A number of sprocket chains 44 extend substantially the entire length of the loading structure and pass over sprocket wheels 46, one of which is associated with each roller 34. Through the use of the structure just set down, driving power is trans mitted to all necessary parts of the structure.

It is from the projected shaft 48 that the operating power for feeding device 24 is taken. Each side of the device 24 is identical and reference will here be made to the parts on one side. A bevel gear 50, mounted on shaft 48, meshes with gear 52 carried by vertical shaft 54which supports a similar gear 56 which is in mesh with bevel gear 58 mounted on the projected end of transverse shaft 60, which in turn transmits the power across to similar mechanism on the opposite side of feeding device 24. When articles 20 slide down along guides 38, their initial position is as illustrated in Fig. 9, that is, they rest upon transverse rollers 62, supported by slides 64 mounted in the frame 36 of feeding device 24 to permit longitudinal reciprocating movement as the same is imparted thereto through the linkage illustrated in Fig. 8. A link 66, pivotally carried at the end of slide 64, pivotally engages connecting link 68 at its one end. The opposite end of connecting link 68 is pivotally held to frame 36 by a pin 70 with its arcuate end projecting behind gear 58 and in the'path of travel of a'pin 72, .mOunted on the back of gear 58. As gear 58 is rotated through the power connection above mentioned, connecting link 68 is moved to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 8, which draws slide 64 longitudinally. In so doing, article 20, which rests upon rollers 62, carried by slide 64, is moved against a fixed roller 74, which acts as a stop for article 20 to push that end from a position on roller 62 so that it falls by gravity, down upon rollers 34 therebelow. This position is illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 9. As soon as pin 72 releases its hold upon connecting link 68, spring 76 returns slide 64 to the point of beginning. Simultaneously with the action just above mentioned, article 20 will be acted upon by a pusher 8 mounted upon member 80, connecting the ends of slides 64 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. As the action of dropping is carried onand when slides 64 are moved forward, still another duty is carried out.

Vertically slidable pins 82 j ournalled within frame 36, in the path of travel of an inclined face 84 are pushed upwardly to preclude movement of an article 20 from guides 38. As soon as slides 64 are returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, pins 82 resume the position shown therein and an article 20 may move to position upon rollers 62, the same having moved to the point of beginning and having released an article 20 to be acted upon by rollers 34, which carry article 20 to the next succeeding section of conveyor 26,

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Conveyor 26 is made up of a plurality of sections, one of which underlies feeding device 24, just described. Each section has a number of rollers 34 rotatably carried between side walls 86. As above mentioned, each roller is provided with a sprocket wheel 46 which engages chain 44. Conveyor 26 may be made any length and disposed at any desired angle through the novel structure which forms the interlocking connections between the various sections of the conveyor. Details shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, as well as the showing of the interlocking connections in Figs. 3 and 10, clearly disclose the manner in which adjustment between conveyor sections might be obtained, the manner of securing the same in the desired position, and, simultaneously, transmitting motive power from one section to another.

,A pair of pintles 88. pivotally interconnects overlapping side walls 86 of adjacent conveyor sections, and a gear is keyed to one of said pintles 88 in a manner which permits its teeth to mesh with the teeth of gears 92 carried by shafts 94, which in turn support rollers 34, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Thus driving power is transmitted from one section of conveyor 26 to another, and since relative movement between sections is had around pintles 88, gears 90 and 92 are always maintained in mesh.

' Overlapping of sides 86 of the sections of conveyorv 26 is caused by the use of plate 96,

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rigid with one section and extending therefrom to overlap the next. As shown in Fig. 10, a sidewall of one section has formed thereby an arcuate rack 98, the center of which is pintle 88. Such a rack is formed on each side wall of one section and a pinion 100 is provided for each rack. Shaft 102 carries these pinions and extends through both plates 96 to support ratchet wheel 104. Adjacent this ratchet 104 is positioned a dog 106 which is movable to and from engagement therewith when it is desired to lock and unlock conveyor sections for adjustment. Obviously, this locking mechanism just set forth precludes breaking of conveyor sections after they have been pos tioned at the desired angle. Such an angularity is illustrated in Fig. 1 and another showing of this interconnecting feature is shown at the right side of Fig. 6. Pinion 100 shown in Figs. 6 and 11 is not engaged by gears 90, but is in mesh with the arcuate rack 98 formed on side 86 directly behind the gear 90. Articles 20 will be moved along conveyor 26 and where a box car 22 is being loaded, it will be desired to move articles 20 toward each end thereof.

Transporting member A transporting member 30 may be made up of a number of sections which are identical with those used in conveyor 26. The interconnection between the same is like the connection between the sections of conveyor 26 and, while the transporting member may be used to elevate articles 20, in the instance shown it is disposed in a horizontal plane extending transversely of conveyor 26 and laterally to each s de thereof. A selective clutch mechanism 108 which is manually op,- erable, is positioned at the junction of conveyor 26 and transporting member 30 and permits directing articles 20 along member in either direction. This mechanism may be made up of a pair of bevel gears 110, d sposed on each side of a like gear 112, which is mounted upon projected shaft 114, supporting one of the rollers 34.

Gears 110 are slidably mounted upon shaft 116 and may be moved through the medium of lever 118 when shifting is desired. A belt 120 transmits driving power to shaft 116 from pulley 40 which ismounted upon shaft 122, which in turn supports the pulley, over which passes belt 120.

Article turning apparatus Manifestly, article 20 must be turned at the point of connection between conveyor 26 and transporting member 30. Also, this turning must be done to direct article 20 in the proper direction. This invention further provides a power-driven'article turning apparatus 28, supported by transporting member 30 and driven from'the power-driven the direction of movement of. pins 126, and

since all parts. of member SO'andarticle turn; in'g app'aratus 28- are: moving in the same direction, article 20'will-be turned at the'proper time and conveyed toward. an automatic dropper 32 whichforms a part of the length of member 30. Apin 125 engages article20 as it turns and; acts as a fulcrum to assist the action.

Automatic dropper An automatic dropper 32 forms the final section of transporting member 80 and should be positioned where articles 20 may be manu ally handled for orderly stacking. with the least possible inconvenience. Articles 20 are moved onto arms 132 of dropper 32 and slide thereover until oneen'd strikes a bumper 134 adjustably mounted at 186. j a

When bumper 134 is engaged by article 20, the same is moved to the position shown: in dotted lines of Fig. 17 by overcoming the tension of springs 138, which normally hold members 140 in a supporting position. beneath arms 182which areformed upon rods 142 which, in turn, are rotatably mounted in bearings 144.

It is obvious that allof the component parts of this loading structure are operated from a single source of power and that the combination of elements making up the entire structure is necessary before operation is complete. Modifications as to structure might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the device put to various uses without departing in any manner from the basic intent of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a loading structure, a conveyor, comprising a plurality of sections; a plurality of conveyor rollers rotatably mounted on each section; a sprocket wheel associated with each roller intermediate its ends; a sprocket chain interconnecting all sprocket wheels of each section; and power transmitting means between interconnecting the sprocket wheels at the adjoining ends of the sections whereby power is transmitted from one section to the next adjoining.

2. In a loading structure, a conveyor, comprising a plurality of sections; a plurality of conveyor rollers rotatably mounted on each section; a sprocket wheel associated with each roller; a sprocket chain interconnecting all sprocket wheels of each section ;'and power transmitting means between interconnecting the sprocket wheels at the adjoining ends of the sections whereby power is transmitted from one section to the next adjoining; said means including'a rotatably mounted gear; and a gear carried by the end roller of each section, all of said gears being in mesh.

3. In a loading structure, a conveyor C0111- prising a plurality of sections, the sides of adjoining sections overlapping; a pintle pivotally interconnecting said. overlapping sides; a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on each section; power actuated means to rotate all of said rollers of the conveyor including a sprocket wheel at the center of each roller respectively a sprocket chain interconnecting all of said sprocket wheels of each section, a gear carried by each end roller of adjoining sections, and a gear mounted on said pintle for free rotation, said gears on the rollers and said pint'le-supported gear being in mesh to form a gear train for transmitting roller driving force from one section to the section next adjoining; and means to a maintain adjoining sections against relative movement and at the desired angle including an arcuate rack formed by the side wall of one section, a rotatable pinion in mesh with said rack, and means to'lock said pinion against rotation. s V

In testimony whereof, I-hereunto affix my signature. 7

THOMAS E. FARMER.

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