US3556317A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Installation for handling bulk materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-05-20
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1989-05-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a dragline for use in maintaining the slope of bulk materials such as for concrete making stored on the ground in compartments radiating from a distribution tower. A bucket suspended from a carriage running on a horizontal girder moves parallel to the girder until a stop on a return cable connected to the bucket abuts a front stop on the girder. Continued forward travel of the carriage causes the bucket to move in an ascending trajectory. The return cable is wound on a return winch which is connected by a clutch to winches on which are wound cables connected to the carriage and the bucket respectively and the clutch is operated to disconnect the return winch from the other winches when the latter rotate to wind-on their cables and to drive the return winch when they rotate in the opposite direction to pay out their cables.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucien Rene Vidal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:10
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/46; E02F3/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An installation for handling bulk materials comprising a compartmented distributor tower, a substantially horizontal girder rotatable about the vertical axis of the tower at the upper end tHereof, a carriage movable along said girder, a bucket suspended below said carriage, a first winch, a traction cable connected at one end of said carriage and at the other end to said first winch, a second winch integrally connected to said first winch, a scraper cable connected at one end to the leading edge of said bucket and at the other end to said second winch, a third winch rotatable independently of said first and second winches, a return cable connected at one end to the rear of said bucket passing over a pulley on said carriage and a pulley on said girder and connected at the other end to said third winch, two fixed stops on said girder, a mobile stop carried by said return cable and movable between said fixed stops and means to connect said first and second winches to said third winch when they rotate in a direction to pay out their cables and to disconnect the third winch from said first and second winches when they rotate in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An installation for handling bulk materials comprising a compartmented distributor tower, a substantially horizontal girder rotatable about the vertical axis of the tower at the upper end tHereof, a carriage movable along said girder, a bucket suspended below said carriage, a first winch, a traction cable connected at one end of said carriage and at the other end to said first winch, a second winch integrally connected to said first winch, a scraper cable connected at one end to the leading edge of said bucket and at the other end to said second winch, a third winch rotatable independently of said first and second winches, a return cable connected at one end to the rear of said bucket passing over a pulley on said carriage and a pulley on said girder and connected at the other end to said third winch, two fixed stops on said girder, a mobile stop carried by said return cable and movable between said fixed stops and means to connect said first and second winches to said third winch when they rotate in a direction to pay out their cables and to disconnect the third winch from said first and second winches when they rotate in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a clutch disconnecting the third winch from the first two winches when the latter rotate in the direction corresponding to the winding-on of their cables, and connecting the third winch to the first two winches when the latter rotate in the direction corresponding to the unwinding of their cables.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said three winches are coaxial and comprising a friction ring carried by said third winch, a friction band surrounding said friction ring, a spindle carried by one of said other winches, to which one end of said band is connected, a bellcrank pivoted on said other winch, one arm of said crank acting on said spindle, the other arm of said crank being connected to the other end of said friction band, a disc loosely mounted coaxial with said other winch, a finger projecting from said disc into a slot in said other arm of said bellcrank and friction pads engaging said disc to brake rotation thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 comprising a series of peripheral teeth on said third winch, a double pawl adapted to cooperate with said teeth, an electromagnet adapted to rotate said pawl in one direction to engage said teeth to control the lifting of said bucket and a second electromagnet adapted to rotate said pawl in the opposite direction to control the lowering of said bucket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 including means for detecting the tension in the cable connected to the carriage and to emit a signal to energize an electromagnet controlling the lifting of the bucket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said that means for connecting the first two winches to the third winch comprise a unidirectional transmission mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An installation as claimed in claim 6 wherein said unidirectional drive mechanism is associated with a clutch device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
An installation as claimed in claim 6 wherein said unidirectional drive mechanism comprises a pawl mounted on a spindle borne by the first two winches and resiliently applied against a ratchet wheel connected to a bush freely mounted on the shaft of the third winch and bearing a clutch disc cooperating with clutch pads associated with said third winch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the direction of winding-on of the cables on to the first and second winches is opposite to the direction of winding-on of the return cable on to the third winch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said three winches are mounted on a platform disposed at the top of the tower distributor, said platform bearing a shaft of which the lower portion is mounted on a plinth associated with the tower distributor and comprising means for regulating the angular position of the horizontal girder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bucket is formed by two lateral plates interconnected at the rear by a plate covering only the upper portion, the lower portion being formed by a pivoted flap which is resiliently loaded and moves in the opposite direction from scraping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |