US2731163A - Ditching machine having swingably mounted clamshell bucket - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1956 M. c. WILLS ETAL DITCHING MACHINE HAVING SWINGABLY MOUNTED CLAMSHELL BUCKET Filed March 4, 1955 m WW W T we) w 0 WW I W 4 M w United States Patent DITCHING MACHINE HAVIN G SWINGABLY MOUNTED CLAMSHELL BUCKET Marion C. Wills and Wayne 3!. Wills, Topeka, Kaus, as-

signors to Shawnee Manufacturing Company, Ind, Topeka, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application March 4, 1953, Serial No. 340,316

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-147) This invention relates to materials handling equipment and particularly to that class of machinery normally used in digging ditches, trenches and other excavations, leveling ground, shaping the side walls of basements and the like, moving earth, rock, sand and gravel, as well as loading such materials in trucks, trailers and other transport instrumentalities.

It is the most important object of this invention to provide in equipment of this class, a clamshell-type of bucket that is mounted .for normally free swinging movement on a bucket arm that is in turn swingably suspended from an elongated boom, all for the purpose of rendering the same highly versatile in many types of earth handling operations.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a bucket that includes a pair of sections that are swingable on the frame therefor for movement toward and away from each other, either independently or together and notwithstanding the position of the frame with respect to the bucket arm upon which it is swingably mounted.

It is a very important object of this invention to provide an assembly of the aforementioned type wherein extensible means is provided for each bucket section respectively for actuating the sections independently or together, and wherein the extensible means interconnect the sections and the frame upon which the same are mounted so as to render the frame, the bucket sections and the extensible actuating structure therefor all swingable as a unit upon the bucket arm which supports the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swingable clamshell bucket having releasable means for holding the frame upon which the bucket is mounted against swinging movement with respect to the bucket arm that supports the entire swingable assembly.

Other objects include the way in which the aforementioned novel arrangement of parts is provided in combination with a bucket arm that is in turn swingable on a boom; the manner of interconnecting the bucket arm and the boom with extensible means to cause swinging of the arm relative to the boom; the way in which the boom is in turn swingably mounted on a vertical, rotatable standard; the manner of interconnecting the boom with the standard for swinging the boom with respect to the standard; the way in which the rotatable standard is mounted on framework that may be attached to a tractor or the like; the way in which the rotatable standard is actuated by opposed prime movers that interconnect the standard and the primary framework; and many additional objects, all of which will be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a ditching machine having swingably mounted clamshell bucket struc-' ture made pursuant to our present invention showingthe same operabiy mounted on a tractor.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view 2,731,163 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 of the outermost end of the bucket assembly showing the free end of the boom, the bucket arms and the bucket mounted thereon; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, showing the swingable post of the bucket assembly, held against swinging movement, with respect to the bucket arms.

The entire earth moving machine forming the subject matter of the present invention is designed for mounting upon a tractor broadly designated by the numeral 10 in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Through use of the power lift mechanism of the tractor 10 a primary supporting framework, or A-frame 12, is moved to a position engaging the ground when the assembly is placed in use, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Additional support for the A-frame i2 is provided through use of a pair of opposed stabilizers 14 swingable on the frame 3.2 to and from a position bearing against the ground.

The supporting framework 12 carries a vertical standard 16 that is rotatable on its vertical axis and rotated by a pair of opposed extensible assemblies interconnecting the standard 16 and the frame 12. One of these extensible assemblies is shown in Fig. l or" the drawing and is broadly designated by the numeral 18. It consists of a double-acting, fluid cylinder having a reciprocable piston mounted therein.

The standard 16 carries an elongated boom for swinging movement on a substantially horizontal axis, said boom being designated by the numeral 20 and its axis of swinging movement being illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing at 22. The boom 2%) is in turn raised and lowered through use of a fluid cylinder 24 pivotally connected to the standard 16 near its uppermost end, the cylinder 24 having a double-acting reciprocable piston therein. The stem of the piston shown at 26 is pivotally connected to the boom 20 thereabove.

A. bracket 23, rigidly secured to the boom 20 at its outermost free end, receives a pair of elongated, spacedapart bucket arms 39 and 32 through the medium of a horizontal pivot bolt 34, and the bucket arms 3% and 32 in turn receive a clamshell bucket broadly designated by the numeral 36. The arms 30 and 32 are swung on the pivot bolt 34 through use of a double-acting cylinder 33 adapted to receive fluid at opposite ends thereof and pivotally connected to the boom 20 therebelow and adjacent the pivot means 22. The reciprocable piston of the cylinder 38 has a stem at pivotally connected to the bucket arms 30 and 32 intermediate the ends thereof.

Bucket 36 is mounted on the arms 36 and 32 through use of a novel frame broadly designated by the numeral 42. Frame 42 is T-shaped and therefore, includes an elongated crossbeam 44 having a median, upstanding post 46. The crossbeam 44 is provided with a pair of upstanding cars 48 for each arm 30 and 32 respectively, as is clear in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Ears 48 embrace the corresponding arms 30 and 32 and receive pivot pins 50, which mount the frame 42 for free swinging movement relative to the arms 30 and 32 on a substantially horizontal axis.

The bucket 36 is in turn swingably mounted on the frame 42 and consists of a pair of cooperating sections 52 and 54. A pair of outermost plates 56 and a pair of innermost plates 58, depending from the crossbeam 44 and rigid thereto, serve as the means for mounting the sections 52 and 54 of the bucket 36 upon the frame 42. A pair of opposed pintles 6d and a second pair of opposed pintles 62 swingably secure the sections 52 and 54 respectively to the plates 56 and 58.

The post 46 is provided with bracket means 64 at the uppermost end thereof for receiving a pair of opposed double-acting cylinders 66 and 68 for actuating the sections 52 and 54 respectively of the bucket 36. Pivot rods 70 and 72swingably mount the cylinders 66 and 68 to the bracket 64. The reciprocable pistons of the cylinders 66 and 68 are provided with stems 74 and 76 respectively that are in turn pivotally joined to the sections 52 and 54 respectively, as is clear in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing. To this end the sections 52 and 54 are provided with a pair of lugs 78 that in turn receive a pivot pin 80.

In some operations it may be desirable to hold the post 46 against swinging movement relative to the bucket arms 30 and 32. To this end there is provided a crossplate 82 interconnecting the arms 30 and 32 below the pivot bolt 34 that in turn receives a locking pin 84. When the post 46 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing between the arms 39 and 32, the pin 84 may be moved into a socketed boss 86 on the bracket means 64 of the post 46.

Manifestly, all of the fluid cylinders 13, 24, 38, 66 and 68 are supplied with fluid pressure at both ends thereof through the medium of flexible hoses and other conduits, as is shown in the drawing. The source of such fluid supply is not illustrated in the drawing but Fig. 1 illustrates the provision of manual control valving means 88, which may be manipulated by the operator on seat 90 as he faces the bucket 36. By opening and closing the proper valves, the operator may rotate the standard 16 to swing the entire assembly on a vertical axis. By the same token, he may raise and lower the boom 20 on the axis 22 through actuation of the piston within cylinder 24. Still further, he may swing the posts 30 and 32 on the bolt 34 with respect to the boom 2i? by causing the piston within cylinder 33 to reciprocate therealong.

During such operations, the frame 42 is normally free to swing on the pivot pins 50, and by virtue of the fact that the center of gravity of this swinging assembly is below the pivot pins 50, the post 46 will normally assume a substantially vertical position. As the boom it is raised and lowered, or swung on its vertical axis, and as the bucket arms 39 and 32 are caused to swing on the hori-- zontal axis 34, the operator may simultaneously, through use of the manual controls 88, cause the bucket sections 52 and 54 to swing toward and away from each other, either together or independently. it is seen that either of the cylinders 66 or 68, or both may be supplied with fluid pressure, depending upon the nature of the earth moving and handling operations which are taking place. When the post 46 is permitted to swing freely relative to the arms 30 and 32, bucket sections 52 and 54 are actuated for swinging movement relative to the frame 42, and the fact that the frame 42 is permitted to swing freely, has no effect upon the swinging movement of the bucket sections 52 and 54 relative to the frame 42. Finally, as above indicated, some operations may require the holding of post 46 against swinging movement relative to the arms 30 and 32, and in such event the pin 84 may be employed.

It is now apparent that the entire machine is highly maneuverable and quite versatile so far as various types of earth handling operations are concerned. When excavations are being made and the material so excavated is to be transferred from one point to another the sections 52 and 54 may be moved toward and away from'each other, and in this respect, it is seen that dumping of the material from the bucket 36 is a simple and easy operation. in ground leveling operations and in shaping the side walls of basements and other excavations, the bucket section 52 may be used alone if desired and the post 41? held against swinging movement through employment of the locking'pin 84.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be sccuredby Letters Patent is:

1. In materials handling equipment, a boom; a bucket arm depending from the boom and pivotally secured thereto for-swinging movement'about a horizontal axis; a T-shaped frame having a horizontal crossbeam pivotally iii) secured to the arm at the lowermost end of the latter for swinging movement about an axis parallel with said horizontal axis, and an upstanding post rigidly secured to the cross-beam for swinging movement therewith; a clamshell bucket having a pair of opposed sections pivotally mounted on the crossbeam for swinging movement toward and away from each other about axes parallel with said horizontal axis; and a double-acting, hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly extending upwardly from each section respectively, each assembly being pivotally connected with a corresponding section for swinging the latter relative to the crossbeam, said assemblies being pivotally connected to said post at the uppermost end of the latter for swinging movement with the frame and the bucket as a unit relative to the arm as the latter swings relative to the boom, the center of gravity of said unit being below the axis of swinging movement of the crossbeam relative to the arm whereby said post tends to maintain an upright position.

2. In materials handling equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided releasable means for interconnecting the arm and the post to hold the frame against swinging movement relative to the arm.

3. In materials handling equipment, a support; a boom pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said support for swinging movement about a horizontal axis; a bucket arm depending from the boom at the opposite end thereof; a T-shaped frame having a horizontal crossbeam pivotally secured to the arm at the lowermost end of the latter for swinging movement about an axis parallel with said horizontal axis, and an upstanding post rigidly secured to the crossbeam for swinging movement therewith; a clamshell bucket having a pair of opposed sections pivotally mounted on the crossbeam for swinging movement toward and away from each other about axes parallel with said horizontal axis; and a double-acting, hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly extending upwardly from each section respectively, each assembly being pivotally connected with a corresponding section for swinging the latter relative to the crossbeam, said assemblies being pivotally connected to said post at the uppermost end of the latter for swinging movement with the frame and the bucket as a unit relative to the arm as the boom swings relative to the support, the center of gravity of said unit being below the axis of swinging movement of the crossbeam relative to the arm whereby said post tends to maintain an upright position.

4. In materials handling equipment, a support; a boom pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said support for swinging movement about a horizontal axis; a bucket arm depending from the boom at the opposite end thereof and pivotally secured thereto for swinging movement about an axis parallel with said horizontal axis; a T-shaped frame having a horizontal crossbeam pivotally secured to the arm at the lowermost end of the latter for swinging movement about an axis parallel with said horizontal axis, and an upstanding post rigidly secured to the cross beam for swinging movement therewith; a clamshell bucket having a pair of opposed sections pivotally mounted on the crossbeam for swinging movementtoward and away from each other about axes parallel with said horizontal axis; and a double-acting, hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly extending upwardly from each section respectively, each assembly being pivotally connected with a corresponding section for swinging the latter relative to the crossbeam, said assemblies being pivotally connected to said post at the uppermost end of the latter for swinging movement with the frame .and the bucket as a unit relative to the arm as the boom swings relative to the support and as the arm swings relative ,to the boom, the center of gravity of said unit being'below the axis of swinging movement of the crossbeam relative to the arm whereby said post tends to maintain an upright position.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Simauek June 19, 1951 6 Troyer Oct. 20, 1953 Pilch May 18, 1954 Ives Feb. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 20, 1933

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