Large capacity scraper unit construction

Claim 2

A self loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; a scraper bowl positioned substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members; bowl control means interconnected between said scraper bowl and said said mobile scraper frame for interlocking said bowl and scraper frame against transverse movement of said bowl substantially beyond the transverse confines of said spaced frame members, and for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said scraper frame; said bowl control means including suspension means suspending said bowl substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for effecting said raising, lowering and canting movements; and said bowl control means further including stabilizing means, in addition to said suspension means, positioned wholly exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for transmitting lateral working forces between said bowl and said spaced frame members and rigidly interconnected traction unit.

Claim 3

The scraper of claim 1 wherein said suspension means include universal connection means.

Claim 4

The scraper of claim 2 wherein said suspension means includes bowl lift arms mounted on opposite sides of said bowl and power lift means interconnected between said lift arms and overhead superstructure.

Claim 5

The scraper of claim 1 including power operated pitch control means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for selectively controlling bowl pitch.

Claim 6

The scraper of claim 4 wherein said power operated pitch control means comprise a hydraulic ram interconnecting said scraper frame and bowl.

Claim 7

The scraper of claim 4 wherein said power operated pitch control means comprise opposed link pairs universally carried by said scraper frame.

Claim 8

The scraper of claim 4 wherein said power operated pitch control means comprise a pair of links universally carried by said scraper frame.

Claim 9

A self loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit; said superstructure including traNsversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; a scraper bowl positioned substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members; bowl control means; including stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl, for effecting a rigid transverse interlock between said scraper frame and bowl for transmitting transverse working forces from said bowl to said spaced frame members and the traction unit; and said bowl control means further including suspension means, in addition to said stabilizing means, for raising, lowering and canting said bowl.

Claim 10

A self loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit; said superstructure including traNsversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; a scraper bowl positioned substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members; bowl control means; including stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl, for effecting a rigid transverse interlock between said scraper frame and bowl for transmitting transverse working forces from said bowl to said spaced frame members and the traction unit; and said bowl control means further including suspension means, in addition to said stabilizing means, for raising, lowering and canting said bowl.

Claim 11

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising: said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said suspension means including universal connection means and bowl lift arms mounted on opposite sides of said bowl; power lift means interconnected between said lift arms and said overhead superstructure; said suspension means further including frame arm means rigid with said superstructure and depending downwardly therefrom; and means including said universal connection means interconnecting said frame arm means and lift arms whereby said lift arms may undergo universal movements relative to said frame arms.

Claim 12

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising: said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said suspension means including universal connection means and bowl lift arms mounted on opposite sides of said bowl; power lift means interconnected between said lift arms and said overhead superstructure; said suspension means further including frame arm means rigid with said superstructure and depending downwardly therefrom; and means including said universal connection means interconnecting said frame arm means and lift arms whereby said lift arms may undergo universal movements relative to said frame arms.

Claim 13

The scraper of claim 9 wherein said frame arm means comprise a pair of tow arms depending downwardly from said spaced frame members adjacent the forward end thereof.

Claim 14

The scraper of claim 9 wherein said frame arm means comprise a pair of push arms depending downwardly from said spaced frame members adjacent the rear end thereof.

Claim 15

The scraper of claim 10 wherein said frame arm means comprise a tow arm rigidly dependent from said superstructure and universally interconnected with a cross brace rigidly interconnecting the forward ends of said lift arms.

Claim 16

The scraper of claim 10 wherein said bowl lift arms are univerally mounted on said bowl whereby said bowl may undergo universal movements relative to said lift arms.

Claim 17

The scraper of claim 13 wherein said stabilizing means include stabilizing bracket means secured to the side walls of said bowl and defining elongate slots through which a portion of said lift arms extend for limiting said universal movements undergone by said bowl relative to said lift arms.

Claim 18

The scraper of claim 13 wherein said stabilizing means comprise a modified Watts linkage including a radius link centrally mounted for rotation on a pivot shaft rigid with said scraper frame and a pair of radius arms interconnecting opposite ends of said radius link with said lift arms.

Claim 19

The scraper of claim 13 wherein said stabilizing means comprise a spaced pair of stabilizing plates pivoted at one end thereof to said bowl and at the other ends thereof to opposite ends of spaced links for conjoint, parallel movement relative thereto; a cross shaft rigidly interconnecting said spaced links intermediate the opposite ends thereof; and a main link universally interconnecting said cross shaft and scraper frame whereby said stabilizing means may undergo universal movements with said bowl relative to said frame.

Claim 20

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially withiN the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said suspension means comprising a pair of bowl lift arms universally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said bowl and universally interconnected adjacent respective opposite ends thereof, with bowl lift cylinders depending from said overhead superstructure and a pair of tow arms rigidly dependent from said spaced frame members.

Claim 21

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially withiN the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said suspension means comprising a pair of bowl lift arms universally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said bowl and universally interconnected adjacent respective opposite ends thereof, with bowl lift cylinders depending from said overhead superstructure and a pair of tow arms rigidly dependent from said spaced frame members.

Claim 22

The scraper of claim 17 wherein said pair of tow arms are rigidly dependent from the forward ends of said spaced frame members.

Claim 23

The scraper of claim 17 wherein said stabilizing means includes bracket means rigid with the side walls of said bowl for limiting transverse relative movement between said bowl and lift arms.

Claim 24

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; power operated pitch control means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for selectively controlling bowl pitch; said power operated pitch control means comprising a parallelogram linkage universally carried by said scraper frame.

Claim 25

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; power operated pitch control means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for selectively controlling bowl pitch; said power operated pitch control means comprising a parallelogram linkage universally carried by said scraper frame.

Claim 26

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said longitudinally members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral thereof confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said stabilizing means comprising link means intermediate said scraper frame and bowl for transferring lateral loading forces from said bowl to said frame; said link means including a radius link mounted intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movement about an axis fixed with respect to a central portion of said scraper frame and extending generally longitudinal thereof; a pair of radius arms each having one end there of pivoted to opposite ends of said radius link and extending in opposite directions; and means including universal connection means interconnecting the other end of each said radius arm with said bowl.

Claim 27

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said longitudinally members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral thereof confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said stabilizing means comprising link means intermediate said scraper frame and bowl for transferring lateral loading forces from said bowl to said frame; said link means including a radius link mounted intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movement about an axis fixed with respect to a central portion of said scraper frame and extending generally longitudinal thereof; a pair of radius arms each having one end there of pivoted to opposite ends of said radius link and extending in opposite directions; and means including universal connection means interconnecting the other end of each said radius arm with said bowl.

Claim 28

The scraper of claim 21 wherein said suspension means include bowl lift arms on opposite sides of said bowl; and said last named universal connection means interconnecting said other end of each said radius arm with said bowl lift arms.

Claim 29

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said stabilizing means comprisinG upper and lower stabilizing plates pivoted at opposite ends thereof to the rear of said bowl and a pair of spaced links; and means mounting said pair of spaced links on said scraper frame for universal movement relative thereto.

Claim 30

In a self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit, the improvement comprising frame members rigid with said rear traction unit; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of the peripheral confines of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; said stabilizing means comprisinG upper and lower stabilizing plates pivoted at opposite ends thereof to the rear of said bowl and a pair of spaced links; and means mounting said pair of spaced links on said scraper frame for universal movement relative thereto.

Claim 31

A self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by central superstructure bridging an integrally connected rear traction unit and a forward steerable wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members; a scraper bowl positioned substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members; bowl control means, including stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of said bowl for effecting a transverse interlock between said bowl and scraper frame for transmitting transverse working forces from said bowl to said spaced frame members and the traction unit; and said bowl control means further including suspension means, in addition to said stabilizing means, for raising, lowering and canting said bowl.

Claim 32

A self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by central superstructure bridging an integrally connected rear traction unit and a forward steerable wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members; a scraper bowl positioned substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members; bowl control means, including stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of said bowl for effecting a transverse interlock between said bowl and scraper frame for transmitting transverse working forces from said bowl to said spaced frame members and the traction unit; and said bowl control means further including suspension means, in addition to said stabilizing means, for raising, lowering and canting said bowl.

Claim 33

The scraper of claim 24 including power operated lift means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for raising and lowering the front end of said bowl; and power operated pitch control means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for selectively controlling the fore and aft orientation of said bowl.

Claim 34

A self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by central superstructure bridging an integrally connected rear traction unit and a forward steerable wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for movement relative thereto between upper carry and lower working positions; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; power operated lift means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for raising and lowering the front end of said bowl; power operated pitch control means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for selectively controlling the fore and aft orientation of said bowl; and said suspension means including bowl lift arms universally connected adjacent one end thereof with frame arms rigid with said spaced frame members and universally connected adjacent the other end thereof with said power operated lift means.

Claim 35

A self-loading scraper having a mobile scraper frame defined by central superstructure bridging an integrally connected rear traction unit and a forward steerable wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members; suspension means suspending a scraper bowl from said scraper frame substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for movement relative thereto between upper carry and lower working positions; stabilizing means positioned exteriorly of said bowl for limiting relative transverse movement between said bowl and scraper frame; power operated lift means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for raising and lowering the front end of said bowl; power operated pitch control means interconnected between said scraper frame and bowl for selectively controlling the fore and aft orientation of said bowl; and said suspension means including bowl lift arms universally connected adjacent one end thereof with frame arms rigid with said spaced frame members and universally connected adjacent the other end thereof with said power operated lift means.

Claim 36

An earth moving scraper comprising: a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members; bowl control means including suspension means suspending a scraper bowl having a scraper blade and a floor extending rearwardly therefrom substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; said suspension means including a pair of arms extending substantially along the path of travel of the scraper on opposite sides of said bowl for coupling the bowl with the scraper frame; said suspension means further including power means coupled with the scraper frame and each of said arms for lowering and raising the bowl to and from an elevated earth carrying position and an earth scraping position wherein at least a part of the blade on said bowl engages the ground to cause earth scraped therefrom to be directed into the interior of the bowl and supported by the floor thereof; said bowl control means further including stabilizer means for effecting a transverse interlock between said scraper frame and bowl; and pitch control means interconnecting said bowl and scraper frame for maintaining the fore and aft attitude of the bowl floor in a plane parallel to the surface of the earth being worked when the bowl is in said earth scraping position.

Claim 37

An earth moving scraper comprising: a mobile scraper frame defined by overhead superstructure bridging a rear traction unit and a forward wheel unit; said superstructure including transversely spaced frame members; bowl control means including suspension means suspending a scraper bowl having a scraper blade and a floor extending rearwardly therefrom substantially within the transverse confines of said spaced frame members for raising, lowering and canting said bowl relative to said frame members; said suspension means including a pair of arms extending substantially along the path of travel of the scraper on opposite sides of said bowl for coupling the bowl with the scraper frame; said suspension means further including power means coupled with the scraper frame and each of said arms for lowering and raising the bowl to and from an elevated earth carrying position and an earth scraping position wherein at least a part of the blade on said bowl engages the ground to cause earth scraped therefrom to be directed into the interior of the bowl and supported by the floor thereof; said bowl control means further including stabilizer means for effecting a transverse interlock between said scraper frame and bowl; and pitch control means interconnecting said bowl and scraper frame for maintaining the fore and aft attitude of the bowl floor in a plane parallel to the surface of the earth being worked when the bowl is in said earth scraping position.

Claim 38

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 27, wherein said power means is coupled with each of said arms at one of the ends of the latter and said pitch control means comprises extensible means coupled with said bowl at the end of the bowl opposite said one end of the arms, said extensible means being movable between retracted and extended positions in accordance with the lowering and raising of the bowl by said power means.

Claim 39

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 28, wherein said extensible means comprises a power cylinder positioned rearwardly of said bowl.

Claim 40

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 29, wherein said pitch control means includes a scissors linkage pivotally coupled with said bowl and scraper frame.

Claim 41

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 29 wherein said pitch control means includes parallelogram linkage pivotally coupled with said bowl and scraper frame.

Claim 42

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 28, wherein said arms extend fore and aft of the bowl and the latter is pivotally mounted on the arms at a point intermediate the ends of the arms.

Claim 43

An earth moving scraper comprising: a frame; a scraper bowl carried by the frame and having a scraper blade and a floor extending rearwardly therefrom; a pair of arms extending substantially along the path of travel of the scraper on opposite sides of said bowl for coupling the bowl with the frame; power means coupled with the frame and each of said arms for lowering and raising the bowl to and from an elevated earth carrying position and an earth scraping position wherein at least a part of the blade on said bowl engages the ground to cause earth scraped therefrom to be directed into the interior of the bowl and supported by the floor thereof; stabilizer means connected to the bowl for maintaining the fore and aft attitude of the floor thereof in a plane parallel to the surface of the earth being worked when the bowl is in said earth scraping position; said power means being coupled with each of said arms at one of the ends of the latter and said stabilizer means comprises extensible means coupled with said bowl at the end of the bowl opposite said one end of the arms, said extensible means being movable between retracted and extended positions in accordance with the lowering and raising of the bowl by said power means; said arms extending fore and aft of the bowl and the latter being pivotally mounted on the arms at a point intermediate the ends of the arms; and said arms being coupled with said frame through universal couplings and said power means being coupled with said arms and said frame through universal couplings.

Claim 44

An earth moving scraper comprising: a frame; a scraper bowl carried by the frame and having a scraper blade and a floor extending rearwardly therefrom; a pair of arms extending substantially along the path of travel of the scraper on opposite sides of said bowl for coupling the bowl with the frame; power means coupled with the frame and each of said arms for lowering and raising the bowl to and from an elevated earth carrying position and an earth scraping position wherein at least a part of the blade on said bowl engages the ground to cause earth scraped therefrom to be directed into the interior of the bowl and supported by the floor thereof; stabilizer means connected to the bowl for maintaining the fore and aft attitude of the floor thereof in a plane parallel to the surface of the earth being worked when the bowl is in said earth scraping position; said power means being coupled with each of said arms at one of the ends of the latter and said stabilizer means comprises extensible means coupled with said bowl at the end of the bowl opposite said one end of the arms, said extensible means being movable between retracted and extended positions in accordance with the lowering and raising of the bowl by said power means; said arms extending fore and aft of the bowl and the latter being pivotally mounted on the arms at a point intermediate the ends of the arms; and said arms being coupled with said frame through universal couplings and said power means being coupled with said arms and said frame through universal couplings.

Claim 45

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 32, wherein said stabilizer means includes structure on opposite sides of said bowl for restraining lateral movement of the bowl relative to the arms while permitting vertical movement of the bowl relative to the arms.

Claim 46

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 32, wherein said frame includes at least one depending leg, and each of said arms is supported at the other end by said leg.

Claim 47

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 35, wherein said leg depends from said frame forwardly of said bowl.

Claim 48

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 35, wherein said leg depends from said frame rearwardly of said bowl.

Claim 49

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 27, wherein said power means comprises a pair of individual power cylinders, one of which is coupled with each of said arms whereby said bowl is movable to a tilted position upon activation of one of said cylinders.

Claim 50

An earth moving scraper comprising: an overhead frame; a scraper bowl having a floor, said bowl being disposed beneath the frame and movable from an earth moving position to an earth scraping position wherein at least a leading edge of said bowl projecting from the floor thereof engages the earth being worked; fore and aft extending arms on opposite sides of said scraper bowl and coupled with the latter through universal coupling means; at least one depending leg on said frame for supPorting said arms at one end; individually operable power means coupled with the frame and each of said arms at the other end thereof for raising and lowering the bowl to and from said positions relative to the frame; and extensible means coupled with the scraper bowl and said frame and movable between retracted and extended positions in accordance with the lowering and raising of the bowl to maintain the fore and aft attitude of the floor thereof essentially parallel to the surface of the earth being worked when the bowl is in said earth scraping position.

Claim 51

An earth moving scraper comprising: an overhead frame; a scraper bowl having a floor, said bowl being disposed beneath the frame and movable from an earth moving position to an earth scraping position wherein at least a leading edge of said bowl projecting from the floor thereof engages the earth being worked; fore and aft extending arms on opposite sides of said scraper bowl and coupled with the latter through universal coupling means; at least one depending leg on said frame for supPorting said arms at one end; individually operable power means coupled with the frame and each of said arms at the other end thereof for raising and lowering the bowl to and from said positions relative to the frame; and extensible means coupled with the scraper bowl and said frame and movable between retracted and extended positions in accordance with the lowering and raising of the bowl to maintain the fore and aft attitude of the floor thereof essentially parallel to the surface of the earth being worked when the bowl is in said earth scraping position.

Claim 52

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 29 wherein is provide a first link pivotally suspended from the frame rearwardly of the bowl, and a second link pivotally joined to the bowl and said power cylinder, said first link being pivotally connected to the second link intermediate the points of pivotal connection thereof to said bowl and the power cylinder.

Claim 53

An earth moving scraper as set forth in claim 39 wherein said power means and the extensible means are selectively operable to tilt the bowl in a fore and aft direction while the same is in a raised position thereof above the ground to facilitate dumping of earth from the bowl during unloading thereof.