US2627680A - Snow loading device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1953 M. T. SCHULTE ET AL SNOW LOADING DEVICE 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed March 10. i950 IN V EN TORS 403'.

NWT

Mike I Schu/Ie Lauis J. Lilcby Elwood W. Dawnwa 0' M. T. SCHULTE ET AL SNOW LOADING DEVICE Feb. 10, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10. 1950 Mi/qe r Schu/le Louis J. Lilchy INVENTORS 00' W Downward Feb. 10, 1953 M. T. SCHULTE ET AL SNOW LOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 10. 1950 .m& a

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SNOW LOADING DEVICE Filed March 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mi/(e 7f Schu/Ie g Louis J. Lila/1y E W Downward INVENTORS Patented Feb. 10, 1953 SNOW LOADING DEVICE Mike T. S'chulte, Louis J. Litchy, and Elwood W. Downward, Little Falls, Minn.

Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,774

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in snow removal devices of the type which collect the snow from a highway, deposit it in a hopper and then by means of an unloading conveyor, place it in .a truck or alongside of the highway.

It is usual for certain equipment to urge the snow in windrows or a windrow alongside of a highway, road or any other area. Thereafter, ithas been customary to either leave the snow in the windrowsfor collect it by means of certain type of collection apparatus, the most common of which employs endless conveyor belts. It is the primary object of the present invention to collect this snow by means of a device which does notemploy expensive endless conveyor belts but which uses a more inexpensive paddle-type conveyor system, the blades of the collector con- Veyor being curved from end to end specifically for the purpose of scooping the snow from the windrows.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved structural assemblage of elements which are arranged to provide an efiicient machine requiring a small horse power expenditure forcollecting the snow inasmuch as the normal sliding action of the snow (due to gravity) which is found in conveyor systems using the fiat endless belts, is not present in the machine due to the positive displacement arrangement of the members forming virtual buckets in the conveyor assembly.

A further object of the invention is to improve the adjustability of the collector conveyor and trough assembly inasmuch as the collector conveyor is disposed on a conveyor frame which has one part thereof resting on the upstanding sides of the trough, both the trough and the collector conveyor frame being pivoted whereby upon pivotal adjustment of the trough, the entire frame for the collector conveyor is similarly adjusted.

Other objects and features will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of'the device;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the snow collecting and unloading device, showing the side of the machine opposite from that in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the structure;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows, illustrating particularly the structure of the collector conveyor and trough assembly; and,

2 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows, showing particularly the structure of the unloading conveyor and guard which is used for protecting the endless conveyor.

The general operation of the inventionincludes the forward movement of the machine to help collect. the snow, this forward movement being imparted by a conventional, small tractor it. Usually, snow on highways is first pushed to the sides in windrows by means of conventional niachinery. Thereafter, it is collected by a rather large machine and distributed in an area where it will not be in the vehicular path of movement. Another alternative is to omit the step of wind-- rowing the snow and simply collect it directly from the highway for distribution on the adjacent area. The instant machine is adaptedto operate when the snow has been windrowed or for initial collection from the highway.

Thesnow is gathered in the collector conveyor by means of the converging sides of a trough and urged upwardly until it is deposited in a hopper. This hopper has in communication therewith, a discharge conveyor for taking the snow from the hopper and urging it transversely of the line of travel of the machine for emission into a truck or into a field alongside of the highway. Both of the conveyors are adjustable in response to a manually operative pair of mechanisms. i

There is provided a chassis i2 of sufiicient structural makeup to accommodate the two conveyors, an engine I4 and other elements formed in the makeup of the machine. The chassis is substantially L-shaped (see Figure 4) the short- .er leg i6 thereof having the engine 14 fixed thereto by any conventional means and having a hitch i9 secured thereto. This hitch is adapted to be connected with the drawbar of the tractor it. The longer leg l8 of the chassis has a conventional hitch 2B fixed thereto which, through the drawbar 22, is secured to a hitch 24 on the side of the tractor l0.

A rather large caster assembly 2'6 is secured by means of a bracket 28 to the longer leg i 8 of the chassis l2 and on the opposite side from the hitch 2B. A smaller caster assembly 30 is secured by means of the bracket 32 to the chassis at approximately the junction of the two legs of the chassis. The two caster assemblies together with the tractor provide the wheel base for the device.

Reference is now made to the drive mechanism for the two conveyors 36 and38. The preferred drive mechanism consists of a number of shafts. chains and sprockets.

The outputshaft of the 7 3 engine has a sprocket secured thereto and a chain is entrained therearound. This chain is housed in a case 42 and extends around a sprocket 44 which is fixed to the shaft 45. Said shaft 45 extends transversely of the normal line of travel of the device and is mounted in pillow block bearings 48. A second sprocket (unnumbered) is secured to the shaft 46 and has the chain 50 extending therearound (Figures 1 and 3), the last named chain being also entrained around a rather large sprocket 52 which is disposed on the shaft 54. This shaft is mounted in pillow blocks 56 and 58 and which are carried by parts of the chassis. The endless conveyor 38 is entrained around sprockets I54 and 66 which are fixed to the shaft 54, whereby upon operation of theengi'ne I4, the endless conveyor'SB is rendered operative.

A sprocket 69 is fixed to the shaft '54 at one end thereof and is covered by means of a housing it (Figure 4). This sprocket has a chain I2 (Figures 1 and 3) extending therearound; which also extends around a sprocket T6. Said sprocket I6 is fixed to a shaft I8 which has a bevel gear 88 carried thereby, said gear 80 being enmeshed with another bevel gear 82. The bevel gear 82 is fixed to the sha'ft84 which is mounted in bearings 85 and 86, carried by a part of the chassis. Sprockets 8B and are'fixed to the shaft 84 for operation therewith, amend sprockets 88 and 90 form apart of the discharge conveyor 36. Hencewhen the engine I4 is operative, not only is the endless conveyor 33 actuated but the endless conveyor 36 is'also actuated.

In the event that a relatively immovable object is struck by the'collector conveyor 38, provision is made for preventing damage to the machinery. This provision is 'in 'the'forin ofa slip clutch 92 which is in itself'str'ucturally conventional and which is interposed in the Shaft 54 between the sprocket 52' and the sprocket69.

The specific structureof the collector conveyor 38 and its trough will be discussed at this time. upwardly opening channel-shaped trough havin'g'abottom 94: and sides 95 and 96 rising therefrom pivoted by'nieans' of the pivot Pin 98 to theupstanding' framing 99 on each side of thelongjer' leg I8 of saidchassis I2. (Figure 3.) A ycke 'luq 'is'secured to the bottom 9401 the troughand has a piston-cylinder assembly I62 secured thereto for pivotal movement; The other end of this assembly is secured to an angle iron cross member. I04 of' the chassis. Conventional hose connections for. conducting air or liquid to the'cylinder in this assembly are not shown butare of necessity provided. A pump IB G of the manually operable typeis disposed on the chassis at the rear thereof and has an operating lever I08 extending'therefrom. This operating lever is used for the purposeof urging fluid to the assembly IIlZ'which causes the trough to be pivoted aboutthepivot.axis98. A holding valve I II} is supplied 'inthe' pumpstructurefl flfi. so that the trough may be -r'n'ainta' ined in any, adjusted position. j

e we ends of the sides 95 and 95. of the trough ar flared outwardly asat I.I2 and H4. in order tofo'rm a scoop for collection of the snow. The" endless conveyor 38 is'znade of the chains shown in Figure 4; extending parallel to each other and aroundth'e sprockets 6.4 and 66. These chainsalso' extend arou'nda pair. of large Wheels and IIS which are m'ounted' on a shaft I213, said shaft being carried in bearings I 22and I 24. These bearings,.aredisposed on a conveyorframe I281 hich consists of Side niembersconnected' byj means of cross braces I 30 and I32. Said bearings I24 and I22 are adjustably disposed on the side pieces of the frame I28 and screws I3I and 133 are mounted in brackets for adjustment of these bearings longitudinally of the frame, whereby tightening or loosening of the chains of the endless conveyor 38 is accomplished.

The frame I28 extends upwardly so that it is pivoted on the shaft 54 (Figure 3) Hence, the shaft 54 is the pivot axis for the frame I28, thereby becoming the pivot axis for the collector conveyor 38. Although the pivot axis 98 of the trough is vertically spaced from the pivot axis 54. provision is made for the operability of the endless conveyor 38 and the trough insofar as pivotal adjustment is concerned.

An angle iron cross member I it is welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to the upper surface of the sides of the conveyor frame I28. This cross member is sufficiently long to overlie the upstanding edges of the sides 95 and 9,6 of said trough. Blocks hi2 and I 44 (Figure 5) are disposed on these upstanding edges to accommodate wear plates I46 and I 38 which are either fixed to the upper surfaces of the blocks M2 or the bottom surface of the cross member M0 to engage said blocks. The cross member M9 through the blocks and wear plates forms the downward limit of movement of the conveyor frame I28 and hence the endless conveyor thereon. Accordingly, when the trough is raised or lowered through the action of the cylinder-piston assembly H32, th trough is pivoted about its pivot axis 98. At the same time, the endless conveyor frame i28 is raised so that it pivots about its axis 5 3. The horizontal displacement of these pivot axes is taken into consideration by the sliding movement of the crossbar I49 of the conveyor frame 128 on the trough sides 95 and 96.

As discussed in connection with the chassis. sufficient structural members are provided wherever necessary to form a rigid frame, and the same holds true for the various other framing of the machine as for example, the braces I50 and I5I which extend diagonally across apart of the conveyor frame I28. I

In order to complete the conveyor 38, there are a number of slats I5 2; which are secured to brackets IE6 at each end. These brackets are Welded or otherwise rigidly affixed to links of the chains of the endless conveyor. I

Each slat is provided with a strengthening or reinforcing rib I58 on one surface thereof. The opposite surface is the work surface and is con-. cavely curved, the concavity being in the direc-v tion of movement of the conveyor slats during the work portion of the operation of the con veyor. By this expedient, the endless conveyor slats I5 3 taken together with the bottom 94 of the trough, form virtual buckets for collection of the snow, so that it may be deposited ultimately in the hopper 52. 7

Said hopper is secured to the chassis I.2 adjacent the junction of the legs, I6 and I8 thereof. The discharge end of the conveyor 38 is in communication with the hopper so that the snow which has been collected is deposited in this hopper. Thereafter, the snow is collected from, the hopper and discharged by means. of the. discharge conveyor 35.

Said discharge conveyor 36 is formed of a pair of chains i6 3 and IE6 respectively which are entrained around saidsprocket-s 8B and 90 (Figure 3) and which are( entrained around the.

wheels le end no. These wheels a mounted on a shaft I72 which is carried by bearing I74 at the end of the upwardly opening trough I15. This trough is pivoted at its inner end on the shaft 94 so that the pivot axis for the conveyor 35 is the same as the pivot axis for the trough I75. Substantially straight slats I99 are secured at their ends by means of brackets I82 to the spaced chains I and I 96 to complete the structure of the conveyor 36.

A substantially U-shaped guard I86 is secured to the trough I76 and extends around the lower part of the chain conveyor 36. This trough is adapted to engage the side of a truck or any other obstacle or object which may be in the line of pivotal movement of the conveyor 98 when it is adjusted. The utility of the guard is to prevent damage to the chain and also to prevent the chain from damaging any other object which may be in the line of movement of the conveyor.

The inlet end of the conveyor 36 is in communication with the interior of the hopper I52 so that the snow which is collected therein may be gathered for final dispersal at the discharge end of this conveyor.

The means for pivotally adjusting the conveyor 39 and its trough I76 is seen best in Figure 4 and consists of a pair of drums I88 and I90 which are mounted on the shaft I92 rigidly. Said shaft has an operating handle I94 fixed thereto in order to rotate the drums. A cable I96 extends from both drums and is entrained around a sheave I99. This sheave has the rods 200 secured thereto which are attached at its ends to brackets 202 which are fixed to the top edges of the trough I16. Accordingly, upon operation of the handle I94, the cable I99 is played inwardly or outwardly of the drums I90 and I28 thereby causing the conveyor 95 to be raised or lowered. In order to hold the conveyor in an adjusted position, a pivoted keeper 204 is carried by the standard 206 which also mounts the shaft I92 for rotation, and is adapted to be engaged by the handle. The handle being fixed with the shaft I92, causes the shaft to be locked when the handle engages the keeper 204. Also mounted on this standard is a lamp 2 I 0 which is employed for the purpose of lighting the region wherein the work is being done. Any number of such lights may be employed, as found desirable and practical.

In order to attach the device to a tractor, it may be necessary to raise one side of the device so that the drawbars and hitches may be aligned the necessary amount. For this purpose there is provided screw-type jacks 2I6 and 2l8 on one side of the chassis. Actuation of these jacks raises the side of the device remote from the caster assemblies 20 and 39.

In initiating operation of the machine, the lever 220 is manipulated properly for the purpose of disengaging the clutch which is disposed in the clutch housing 222. This clutch permits the engine to operate without causing operation of either conveyor. However, when the clutch is engaged by further operation of the lever 220, both conveyors are caused to operate.

In use of the device the patrol blade of a patrol grader or tractor is so aligned with the snow loader scoops that the blade sends the snow into the snow loader and consequently it is not necessary with this machine that the snow first be arranged in windrows. The machine can either be used with a windrow device or without it depending on how the operator desires to use it. With a windrow arrangement, the patrol grader or tractor used does not need a blade, but if you do not have a windrow the patrol grader blade can be used to send snow into the machine scoops.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Snow removal apparatus comprising a wheel supported chassis frame, a snow removal trough inclining upwardly and rearwardly of said frame and having a front snow scooping end and a rear end pivoted on said frame in elevated position for vertical adjustment of said trough into different inclined positions, an endless power driven chain conveyor running in said trough in engagement with the bottom thereof to convey the snow rearwardly out of said trough, a conveyor driving shaft extending across the rear end of said trough above the same and journalled on said frame, a conveyor frame including side bars normally resting on the sides of the trough and supporting the front end of the conveyor and being pivoted on said shaft for vertical swinging of the front end of the conveyor relative to said trough and vertical swinging adjustment of said conveyor by vertical adjustment of said trough, and means for adjusting said trough.

2. Snow removal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises cross slats having concave sides facing the rear end of the trough when said conveyor is engaged with the bottom of the trough whereby to facilitate conveying the snow rearwardly out of said trough.

MIKE T. SCHULTE. LOUIS J. LITCHY. ELWOOD W. DOWNWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 239,857 Schulz Apr. 5, 1881 695,020 Williams Mar. 11, 1902 1,025,569 Hollenbeck May 7, 1912 1,148,954 Carr Aug. 3, 1915 1,154,388 Eckardt Sept. 21, 1915 1,252,164 Peltier Jan. 1, 1918 1,720,285 Merwin July 9, 1929 1,744,066 Briggs Jan. 21, 1930 1,790,315 Meserve et al. Jan. 27, 1931 2,195,796 Currie Apr. 2, 1940 2,199,239 Grifiith et a1. Apr. 30, 1940 2,298,671 Bayes Oct. 13, 1942

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