Backhoe-type self-loading scraper

Claim 2

Mechanism for assisting loading of a scraper having a bowl with an open forward end and a cutting edge thereat and having hitch means for connecting said forward end of said bowl to a tractor and having means providing for selective raising and lowering of said forward end of said bowl relative to said hitch means, comprising: a movable apron member disposed at said forward end of said bowl transversely with respect to the direction of travel of the scraper; support linkage extending forward from said apron member to said hitch means for supporting said apron member on said hitch means independently of said bowl and without direct connection thereto, said support linkage being pivotably coupled to said apron member and to said hitch mean to provide for forward and downward movement of said apron member relative to said bowl and relative to said hitch means; and powered means connected to said linkage and to said hitch means for selectively providing said apron movement.

Claim 3

Mechanism for assisting loading of a scraper having a bowl with an open forward end with a cutting edge thereat and having hitch structure for supporting said forward end of said bowl by means of a tractor in front of said bowl and having means for raising and lowering said bowl relative to said hitch structure and tractor, comprising: an apron extending across said forward portion of said bowl without direct attachment thereto, a first apron support link member coupled to said apron by a first pivot joint and extending upward therefrom; a second apron support link member coupled to said first link member by a second pivot joiNt situated above said first pivot joint and extending forward therefrom towards said hitch structure and being pivoted to said hitch structure by a third pivot joint, first motor means connected between said apron and said first link member for controlling the inclination of said apron relative to said first link member; second motor means connected between said first link member and said second link member for controlling the inclination of said first link member relative to said second link member; and third motor means connected between said second link member and said hitch structure for controlling the inclination of said second link member relative to said hitch structure, whereby said apron may be swung forward and backward and raised and lowered relative to said bowl and relative to said hitch structure to perform a hoeing motion for sweeping material into said bowl and may be positioned immediately above said cutting edge for carrying a load in said bowl.

Claim 4

Mechanism for assisting loading of a scraper having a bowl with an open forward end with a cutting edge thereat and having hitch structure for supporting said forward end of said bowl by means of a tractor in front of said bowl and having means for raising and lowering said bowl relative to said hitch structure and tractor, comprising: an apron extending across said forward portion of said bowl without direct attachment thereto, a first apron support link member coupled to said apron by a first pivot joint and extending upward therefrom; a second apron support link member coupled to said first link member by a second pivot joiNt situated above said first pivot joint and extending forward therefrom towards said hitch structure and being pivoted to said hitch structure by a third pivot joint, first motor means connected between said apron and said first link member for controlling the inclination of said apron relative to said first link member; second motor means connected between said first link member and said second link member for controlling the inclination of said first link member relative to said second link member; and third motor means connected between said second link member and said hitch structure for controlling the inclination of said second link member relative to said hitch structure, whereby said apron may be swung forward and backward and raised and lowered relative to said bowl and relative to said hitch structure to perform a hoeing motion for sweeping material into said bowl and may be positioned immediately above said cutting edge for carrying a load in said bowl.

Claim 5

The mechanism defined in claim 2 wherein said second motor means comprises an extensible and contractable jack pivotably coupled to said first link member at a point intermediate between said first and second pivot joints by a fourth pivot joint and extending forward therefrom to said hitch structure and being pivotably coupled to said hitch structure by a fifth pivot joint.

Claim 6

The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said fifth pivot joint is spaced rearwardly on said hitch structure from said third pivot joint.

Claim 7

The combination defined in claim 2 further comprising a lever having a forward end pivoted to said hitch structure, and an additional link having a forward end pivoted to the back end of said lever and having a back end pivotably connected to said second link member, and wherein said third motor means comprises a fluid-operated jack connected between said lever and said hitch structure.

Claim 8

Mechanism for assisting loading of a scraper having a bowl with an open forward end and a cutting edge thereat and having hitch means for connecting said forward end of said bowl to a tractor and having means providing for selective raising and lowering of said forward end of said bowl relative to said hitch means, comprising: a movable apron member disposed at said forward end of said bowl transversely with respect to the direction of travel of the scraper; support linkage extending forward from said apron member to said hitch means for supporting said apron member on said hitch means independently of said bowl and without direct connection thereto, said support linkage being pivotably coupled to said apron member and to said hitch means to provide for forward and backward and upward and downward movement of said apron member relative to said bowl and relative to said hitch means, the means supporting the apron having upwardly extending members pivoted to the apron, forwardly extending members pivoted to the upwardly extending members and pivot means between the forwardly extending members and the hitch means, and powered means connected to said linkage and to said hitch means for selectively providing said apron movement.

Claim 9

Mechanism for assisting loading of a scraper having a bowl with an open forward end and a cutting edge thereat and having hitch means for connecting said forward end of said bowl to a tractor and having means providing for selective raising and lowering of said forward end of said bowl relative to said hitch means, comprising: a movable apron member disposed at said forward end of said bowl transversely with respect to the direction of travel of the scraper; support linkage extending forward from said apron member to said hitch means for supporting said apron member on said hitch means independently of said bowl and without direct connection thereto, said support linkage being pivotably coupled to said apron member and to said hitch means to provide for forward and backward and upward and downward movement of said apron member relative to said bowl and relative to said hitch means, the means supporting the apron having upwardly extending members pivoted to the apron, forwardly extending members pivoted to the upwardly extending members and pivot means between the forwardly extending members and the hitch means, and powered means connected to said linkage and to said hitch means for selectively providing said apron movement.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6 with said powered means causing relative movements of said members about all of the pivotal connections.