Stabilizer and positive ejection mechanism for earth moving apparatus

Claim 2

An earth moving apparatus having side walls, a fixed floor portion extending between the side walls, an end wall movable between the side walls, and a main blade extending transversely between the side walls and carried forwardly of the floor portion, an opening between said floor portion and main blade, a door normally extending forwardly from said floor portion for closing the opening, a trailingly mounted frame portion, an axle mounted on said frame portion having ground engaging wheels, and stabilizer and actuating means supported on said frame portion for opening and closing the door and for moving said end wall forwardly to push earth material through said opening when the door is open, said means comprising a rigid stabilizer structure connected to the end wall and extending rearwardly thereof a distance at least equal to the forward travel of the end wall and movable forwardly of said axle with the end wall when pushing earth material through said opening, a link element connected to said door extending rearwardly of the axle at least a distance equal to the rearward travel of said door and movable rearwardly with the said door when uncovering said opening, trackway means mounted on the frame portion having a forwardly extending portion for guiding said rigid stabilizer structure and a rearwardly extending portion for guiding said link element whereby the end wall and door are guided in a fore and aft direction on a common line.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said link element is a rigid yoke having a forked end pivotally connected to the door, guide means carried on the opposite end traveling on the rearwardly extending portion of the trackway means, other guide means mounting at the trailing end of said rigid structure traveling on the forwardly extending portion of said trackway means.

Claim 4

In an earth moving apparatus having a movable end gate, fixed parallel side walls between which the end gate moves, a fixed floor portion between the side walls, a movable door shiftable below the fixed floor portion, rollers on opposite sides of the door for supporting it during movement, a frame portion rigidly mounted to said side walls and extending rearwardly thereof and an axle supported on said frame portion havIng ground engaging wheels partially supporting said apparatus, the improvement comprising a stabilizing and actuating mechanism supported on the frame portion for sequentially opening said door and moving said end gate forwardly to push earth material through the opening uncovered by said door, said mechanism including a rigid stabilizer structure connected to the end gate and extending rearwardly thereof a distance at least equal to the distance of forward travel of the end gate and movable forwardly of the axle with the end gate when pushing dirt through said opening, trackway means having a portion extending forwardly of the axle for guiding the trailing end of said rigid stabilizer structure, and in cooperation with said side walls maintaining said end gate in a transverse plane during fore and aft movement thereof, a link element having laterally spaced arms pivotally connected to the door and extending rearwardly of the axle a distance at least equal to the rearward travel of said door, said trackway means having a second portion extending rearwardly of said axle supporting the end of said link element and cooperating with said rollers for guiding said door, and actuating means supported on said frame portion operable to cause movement sequentially of said door and then the end gate for expelling earth material from said apparatus, said trackway means establishing a low center stabilizing line and said actuating means being close-coupled to the door and end gate and acting on lines closely adjacent the low center stabilizing line.

Claim 5

In an earth moving apparatus having a movable end gate, fixed parallel side walls between which the end gate moves, a fixed floor portion between the side walls, a movable door shiftable below the fixed floor portion, rollers on opposite sides of the door for supporting it during movement, a frame portion rigidly mounted to said side walls and extending rearwardly thereof and an axle supported on said frame portion havIng ground engaging wheels partially supporting said apparatus, the improvement comprising a stabilizing and actuating mechanism supported on the frame portion for sequentially opening said door and moving said end gate forwardly to push earth material through the opening uncovered by said door, said mechanism including a rigid stabilizer structure connected to the end gate and extending rearwardly thereof a distance at least equal to the distance of forward travel of the end gate and movable forwardly of the axle with the end gate when pushing dirt through said opening, trackway means having a portion extending forwardly of the axle for guiding the trailing end of said rigid stabilizer structure, and in cooperation with said side walls maintaining said end gate in a transverse plane during fore and aft movement thereof, a link element having laterally spaced arms pivotally connected to the door and extending rearwardly of the axle a distance at least equal to the rearward travel of said door, said trackway means having a second portion extending rearwardly of said axle supporting the end of said link element and cooperating with said rollers for guiding said door, and actuating means supported on said frame portion operable to cause movement sequentially of said door and then the end gate for expelling earth material from said apparatus, said trackway means establishing a low center stabilizing line and said actuating means being close-coupled to the door and end gate and acting on lines closely adjacent the low center stabilizing line.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes a first hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted above said axle having a forwardly extensible rod pivotally connected midway between the lateral edges of said end gate, a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted below said axle having a rearwardly extensible rod pivotally mounted at the trailing end of said link element, said first and second cylinders positioned in the center plane of the apparatus, and hydraulic circuit means sequentially operating one or the other cylinders before the other depending on which experiences the least resistance to movement.

Claim 7

The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said first hydraulic cylinder is inclined in said center plane so as to apply a downward force component on the lower edge of said end wall.

Claim 8

An earth moving apparatus comprising a plurality of wall members defining a space enclosed on at least three sides adapted to be filled with earth material, one of said wall members being movable into said space for ejecting at least a portion of the earth material, means connected to said movable wall member for moving it between retracted and extended positions and for maintaining it stabilized in a transverse plane with respect to the direction of movement, said means including a rigid stabilizer structure connected to the movable wall member and extending rearwardly thereof to a longitudinally extending, central stabilizing line, a stationary trackway means having a first portion situated on the fore part of said stabilizing line for guiding the end of said stabilizer structure in a fore and aft direction as said wall member is moved and wherein another of said wall members is a fixed floor portion extending below the movable wall member and there is an opening forwardly of the fixed floor portion and a movable door is shiftable for opening and closing said opening, said trackway means including a second portion situated on the rear part of said stabilizing line, a link element connected to said door and extending rearwardly thereof to said second trackway portion for guiding said door between opened and closed positions.

Claim 9

An earth moving apparatus comprising a plurality of wall members defining a space enclosed on at least three sides adapted to be filled with earth material, one of said wall members being movable into said space for ejecting at least a portion of the earth material, means connected to said movable wall member for moving it between retracted and extended positions and for maintaining it stabilized in a transverse plane with respect to the direction of movement, said means including a rigid stabilizer structure connected to the movable wall member and extending rearwardly thereof to a longitudinally extending, central stabilizing line, a stationary trackway means having a first portion situated on the fore part of said stabilizing line for guiding the end of said stabilizer structure in a fore and aft direction as said wall member is moved and wherein another of said wall members is a fixed floor portion extending below the movable wall member and there is an opening forwardly of the fixed floor portion and a movable door is shiftable for opening and closing said opening, said trackway means including a second portion situated on the rear part of said stabilizing line, a link element connected to said door and extending rearwardly thereof to said second trackway portion for guiding said door between opened and closed positions.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 including a frame portion, an axle supporting ground engaging wheels mounted on said frame portion, the fore part of said stabilizing line extending forwardly of said axle and the rear part thereof extending rearwardly of the axle.

Claim 11

Apparatus acCording to claim 7 wherein said first and second trackway portions each has vertical and lateral guiding surfaces and guide means mounted on said stabilizer structure and link element include vertical and lateral guide rollers for traveling on the respective guiding surfaces in stabilizing said movable wall and door along said central stabilizing line.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a pair of hydraulic cylinders is supported on said frame portion, one cylinder being disposed below the axle and extensible rearwardly thereof, the other cylinder being disposed above the axle and extensible forwardly thereof, each moving from the retracted to extended positions to deliver a pushing or pulling force to said door and movable wall member respectively along a line of action closely adjacent the central stabilizing line.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the one cylinder is connected to the movable wall member and is inclined slightly downwardly so as to apply a downward component of force at the lower edge of the wall member.