Multi-wheeled excavator and conveying system

Claim 2

An excavating and loading system comprising: an excavating wheel assembly comprising axle means and at least two rigid excavating wheels rotatably mounted cantilever on and supported on the axle means, said excavating wheel assembly having a width at least equal to the widest portion of the remainder of the system; each of said excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets located immediately adjacent one another to define the entire circumference of the excavating wheel, each bucket having a cutting edge which extends to a stationary wall, and a wall mounted for pivoTal movement from a material receiving position to a material dumping position; supporting and housing means extending between the excavating wheels and connected to the axle means for supporting the excavating wheel assembly; each of said digging buckets extending continuously between a side wall thereof located immediately adjacent to the supporting means and a side wall thereof defining one end of the excavating wheel assembly; drive means extending through the supporting and housing means for rotating the excavating wheels so that the digging buckets follow a circular path; means located within the margins of the excavating wheel assembly and responsive to rotation of the excavating wheels for positively pivoting the movable wall of each digging bucket of the excavating wheels to the material receiving position when the bucket is in the lower and forward portion of the path and for positively pivoting the movable wall to the material dumping position when the bucket is in the upper and rearward portion of the path; a vehicle for supporting and manipulating the excavating wheel supporting means and thereby positioning the excavating wheel assembly in engagement with material to be excavated; and conveyor means mounted on the vehicle entirely behind the excavating wheel assembly for movement around a course including a relatively low portion positioned to receive material from the digging buckets of the excavating wheels upon the positioning of the movable walls of the buckets in the material dumping position and a relatively high material delivery portion located rearwardly on the vehicle from the low portion.

Claim 3

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 wherein the excavating wheel assembly is further characterized by a third rigid excavating wheel positioned between the said at least two excavating wheels and rotatably supported on the axle means.

Claim 4

The excavating and loading system according to claim 2 wherein the conveyor means receives excavated material directly from the center excavating wheel and further including means positioned on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel assembly to receive excavated material from the digging buckets of the outside excavating wheels upon positioning of the movable walls of the digging buckets in the material dumping position and for directing the material to the conveyor means.

Claim 5

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 further including a third excavating wheel supported on the axle means between the two cantilever supported excavating wheels and wherein the excavating wheel supporting and driving means comprises spaced, parallel excavating wheel supporting and driving means extending between the center and the two side excavating wheels.

Claim 6

The excavating and loading system according to claim 4 wherein the conveyor means receives material from the center excavating wheel and further including means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel means for receiving material from the two side excavating wheels and for directing the material to the conveyor means for transportation thereby to the discharge point.

Claim 7

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 further including a conveyor frame supported on the main frame of the vehicle and extending angularly upwardly with respect thereto to define a course of the conveyor means, means supporting the upper portion of the conveyor frame for pivotal movement with respect to the lower portion thereof, an auxiliary conveyor supported at the rear end of the system for receiving material from the conveyor means, and means supporting the auxiliary conveyor for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

Claim 8

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 further including a ballast system comprising a plurality of tanks positioned at spaced points on the vehicle and means for selectively pumping liquid between the tanks.

Claim 9

The excavating and loading system according to Claim 1 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a plurality of push rods each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets; a chain interconnecting the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls; and a member fixedly supported at a point over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means for cooperation with each push rod to move the corresponding movable wall to the material dumping position.

Claim 10

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a plurality of push rods each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets; a collar connected to the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls; means constraining the push rods to rotation with the buckets; and means rotatably supporting the collar at a point offset from the axis of rotation of the buckets and thereby actuating the push rods to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position when their respective buckets are positioned over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means.

Claim 11

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a spring connected to each movable wall for normally positioning the movable wall in the material receiving position; a cam mounted on each movable wall; and means positioned over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means for cooperation with the cams on the movable walls to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position against the action of the springs.

Claim 12

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 wherein the movable wall pivoting means further comprises: a cam track disposed around the axis of rotation of the buckets; and a plurality of cam followers each connected to one of the movable walls and each operatively engaged with the cam track for actuation thereby to pivot the movable walls between the material receiving and the material dumping positions.

Claim 13

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a plurality of cylinders each connected to one of the movable walls for actuation under fluid pressure to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position; and valve means for controlling the actuation of the cylinders in accordance with the rotational positioning of the digging buckets.

Claim 14

The excavating and loading system according to claim 1 further including: auxiliary conveyor means mounted on the vehicle for receiving excavated material from the conveyor means and mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis; a plurality of ballast tanks; and means for selectively directing liquid between the ballast tanks to counterbalance the weight of the auxiliary conveyor means.

Claim 15

The excavating and loading system according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle further comprises: a frame; means supporting the frame for movement along a surface; and an engine for actuating the supporting means to propel the vehicle and for actuating the conveyor means and the auxiliary conveyor means; and wherein the ballast tanks are further characterized by four ballast tanks positioned at forward and rearward positions on opposite sides of the frame.

Claim 16

The excavating and loading system according to claim 14 wherein the excavating wheel means is positioned at one end of the frame, wherein the conveyor means extends rearwardly from the frame between the ballast tanks, and wherein the auxiliary conveyor means is positioned at the opposite end of the frame from the excavating wheel means.

Claim 17

The excavating system according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor means comprises a pair of cross conveyors mounted on the vehicle adjacent the excavating wheels for receiving material from the excavating wheels and for transporting the material inwardly and a conveyor centrally disposed on the vehIcle for receiving material from the cross conveyors and from the excavating wheels and for transporting the material angularly upwardly to a discharge point at the opposite end of the vehicle from the excavating wheels.

Claim 18

An excavating and loading system comprising: an excavating wheel assembly comprising axle means and three rigid excavating wheels rotatably supported on the axle means, said excavating wheel assembly having a width at least equal to the widest portion of the remainder of the system; each of said excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets, each bucket having a cutting edge which extends to a stationary wall, and a wall mounted for pivotal movement from a material receiving position to a material dumping position; supporting and housing means extending between the excavating wheels and connected to the axle means for supporting the excavating wheel assembly; said three excavating wheels including a center excavating wheel comprising digging buckets spanning continuously between points immediately adjacent to the supporting and housing means and two side excavating wheels each comprising digging buckets spanning continuously from points immediately adjacent to the supporting and housing means to points defining the outer ends of the excavating wheel assembly; means including a drive mechanism extending through the supporting and housing means for rotating the excavating wheels so that the digging buckets follow a circular path; means located within the margins of the excavating wheel assembly and responsive to rotation of the excavating wheels for positively pivoting the movable wall of each bucket of the excavating wheels to the material receiving position when the bucket is in the lower and forward portion of the path and for positively pivoting the movable wall to the material dumping position when the bucket is in the upper and rearward portion of the path; a vehicle for supporting and manipulating the excavating wheel supporting means and thereby positioning the excavating wheel assembly in engagement with material to be excavated; conveyor means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel for movement around a course including a relatively low portion positioned to receive material from each digging bucket of the center excavating wheel upon the positioning of the movable wall of the bucket in the material dumping position and a relatively high material delivery portion located rearwardly on the vehicle from the lower portion; and means positioned on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel assembly to receive material from each digging bucket of the outside excavating wheels upon the positioning of the movable wall of the bucket in the material dumping position and for directing the material to the conveyor means.

Claim 19

An excavating and loading system comprising: an excavating wheel assembly comprising axle means and three rigid excavating wheels rotatably supported on the axle means, said excavating wheel assembly having a width at least equal to the widest portion of the remainder of the system; each of said excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets, each bucket having a cutting edge which extends to a stationary wall, and a wall mounted for pivotal movement from a material receiving position to a material dumping position; supporting and housing means extending between the excavating wheels and connected to the axle means for supporting the excavating wheel assembly; said three excavating wheels including a center excavating wheel comprising digging buckets spanning continuously between points immediately adjacent to the supporting and housing means and two side excavating wheels each comprising digging buckets spanning continuously from points immediately adjacent to the supporting and housing means to points defining the outer ends of the excavating wheel assembly; means including a drive mechanism extending through the supporting and housing means for rotating the excavating wheels so that the digging buckets follow a circular path; means located within the margins of the excavating wheel assembly and responsive to rotation of the excavating wheels for positively pivoting the movable wall of each bucket of the excavating wheels to the material receiving position when the bucket is in the lower and forward portion of the path and for positively pivoting the movable wall to the material dumping position when the bucket is in the upper and rearward portion of the path; a vehicle for supporting and manipulating the excavating wheel supporting means and thereby positioning the excavating wheel assembly in engagement with material to be excavated; conveyor means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel for movement around a course including a relatively low portion positioned to receive material from each digging bucket of the center excavating wheel upon the positioning of the movable wall of the bucket in the material dumping position and a relatively high material delivery portion located rearwardly on the vehicle from the lower portion; and means positioned on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel assembly to receive material from each digging bucket of the outside excavating wheels upon the positioning of the movable wall of the bucket in the material dumping position and for directing the material to the conveyor means.

Claim 20

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the conveyor means is further characterized by a conveyor frame mounted on the vehicle and extending generally angularly upwardly with respect thereto to define the course of the conveyor means and including a lower fixedly supported portion and an upper portion mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

Claim 21

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 further including an auxiliary conveyor mounted beneath the high delivery portion of the conveyor means for receiving material therefrom, and means for selectively pivoting the auxiliary conveyor about a vertical axis.

Claim 22

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the vehicle comprises: a main frame; a plurality of pneumatic tired wheels for supporting the main frame; and an engine mounted on the main frame for propelling the system by means of the wheels and for actuating the conveyor means independently of the operation of the excavating wheel supporting and rotating means.

Claim 23

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 further including a conveyor frame supported oN the main frame of the vehicle and extending angularly upwardly with respect thereto to define a course of the conveyor means, means supporting the upper portion of the conveyor frame for pivotal movement with respect to the lower portion thereof, an auxiliary conveyor supported at the rear end of the system for receiving material from the conveyor means, and means supporting the auxiliary conveyor for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

Claim 24

The excavating and loading system according to claim 21 further including a ballast system comprising a plurality of tanks positioned at spaced points on the vehicle and means for selectively pumping liquid between the tanks and thereby counterbalancing the weight of the auxiliary conveyor.

Claim 25

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a plurality of push rods each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets; a chain interconnecting the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls; and a member fixedly supported at a point over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means for cooperation with each push rod to move the corresponding movable wall to the material dumping position.

Claim 26

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a plurality of push rods each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets; a collar connected to the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls; means constraining the push rods to rotation with the buckets; and means rotatably supporting the collar at a point offset from the axis of rotation of the buckets and thereby actuating the push rods to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position when their respective buckets are positioned over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means.

Claim 27

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a spring connected to each movable wall for normally positioning the movable wall in the material receiving position; a cam mounted on each movable wall; and means positioned over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means for cooperation with the cams on the movable walls to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position against the action of the springs.

Claim 28

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the movable wall pivoting means further comprises: a cam track disposed around the axis of rotation of the buckets; and a plurality of cam followers each connected to one of the movable walls and each operatively engaged with the cam track for actuation thereby to pivot the movable walls between the material receiving and the material dumping positions.

Claim 29

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 wherein the movable wall pivoting means comprises: a plurality of cylinders each connected to one of the movable walls for actuation under fluid pressure to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position; and valve means for controlling the actuation of the cylinders in accordance with the rotational positioning of the digging buckets.

Claim 30

The excavating and loading system according to claim 17 further including: auxiliary conveyor means mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis; and ballast means for selective actuation to counterbalance the auxiliary conveyor means.

Claim 31

The excavating and loading system according to claim 28 wherein the vehicle further comprises: a frame; means supporting the frame for movement along a surface; and an engine for actuating the supporting means to propel the vehicle and for actuating the conveyor means and the auxiliory conveyor means; and wherein the ballast means is further characterized by four ballast tanks positioned at forward and rearward positions on opposite sides of the frame.

Claim 32

The excavating and loading system according to claim 29 wherein the excavating wheel means is positioned at one end of the frame, wherein the conveyor means extends rearwardly from the frame between the ballast tanks, and wherein the auxiliary conveyor means is positioned at the opposite end of the frame from the excavating wheel means.

Claim 33

The excavating and loading system according to claim 18 wherein the means for directing material from the two outside excavating wheels to the conveyor means includes cross conveyors for transporting excavated material inwardly to the conveyor means.

Claim 34

An excavating and loading system comprising: vehicle means having a main frame and adapted for movement over a surface and having a predetermined length and a predetermined width; excavating wheel means mounted at the front end of the vehicle means for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the width and perpendicular to the length of the vehicle; said excavating wheel means comprising axle means, two rigid side excavating wheels mounted cantilever on the axle means and comprising the outermost structural components of the excavating and loading system, a third rigid excavating wheel supported on the axle means and extending between the two side excavating wheels and spaced, parallel excavating wheel supporting and having means extending between the center and the two side excavating wheels; means including a drive mechanism extending through the supporting and housing means for rotating the excavating wheels so that the digging buckets follow a circular path; each of said excavating wheels further comprising a plurality of digging buckets with the digging buckets of the side excavating wheels spanning continuously from the outer ends of the excavating wheel means to points immediately adjacent the supporting and housing means and with the digging buckets of the center excavating wheel spanning continuously between points immediately adjacent the two supporting and housing means; the digging buckets each comprising a rear wall mounted for movement between a material receiving position and a material discharging position; means located within the margins of the excavating wheel means and responsive to rotation of the excavating wheel means relative to the vehicle for first positively actuating the movable wall of each digging bucket to the material receiving position and for subsequently positively actuating the movable wall of each digging bucket to the material discharging position; conveyor means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel means for receiving material from the center excavating wheel and for carrying the material upwardly and rearwardly to a discharge point at the rear end of the vehicle; and means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel means for receiving material from the two side excavating wheels and for directing the material to the conveyor means for transportation thereby to the discharge point.

Claim 35

An excavating and loading system comprising: vehicle means having a main frame and adapted for movement over a surface and having a predetermined length and a predetermined width; excavating wheel means mounted at the front end of the vehicle means for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the width and perpendicular to the length of the vehicle; said excavating wheel means comprising axle means, two rigid side excavating wheels mounted cantilever on the axle means and comprising the outermost structural components of the excavating and loading system, a third rigid excavating wheel supported on the axle means and extending between the two side excavating wheels and spaced, parallel excavating wheel supporting and having means extending between the center and the two side excavating wheels; means including a drive mechanism extending through the supporting and housing means for rotating the excavating wheels so that the digging buckets follow a circular path; each of said excavating wheels further comprising a plurality of digging buckets with the digging buckets of the side excavating wheels spanning continuously from the outer ends of the excavating wheel means to points immediately adjacent the supporting and housing means and with the digging buckets of the center excavating wheel spanning continuously between points immediately adjacent the two supporting and housing means; the digging buckets each comprising a rear wall mounted for movement between a material receiving position and a material discharging position; means located within the margins of the excavating wheel means and responsive to rotation of the excavating wheel means relative to the vehicle for first positively actuating the movable wall of each digging bucket to the material receiving position and for subsequently positively actuating the movable wall of each digging bucket to the material discharging position; conveyor means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel means for receiving material from the center excavating wheel and for carrying the material upwardly and rearwardly to a discharge point at the rear end of the vehicle; and means mounted on the vehicle behind the excavating wheel means for receiving material from the two side excavating wheels and for directing the material to the conveyor means for transportation thereby to the discharge point.

Claim 36

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 wherein the movable wall actuating means comprises: a plurality of push rods each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets; a chain interconnecting the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls; and a member fixedly supported at a point over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means for cooperation with each push rod to move the corresponding movable wall to the material dumping position.

Claim 37

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 wherein the movable wall actuating means comprises: a plurality of push rods each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets; a collar connected to the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls; means constraining the push rods to rotation with the buckets; and means rotatably supporting the collar at a point offset from the axis of rotation of the buckets and thereby actuaTing the push rods to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position when their respective buckets are positioned over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means.

Claim 38

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 wherein the movable wall actuating means comprises: a spring connected to each movable wall for normally positioning the movable wall in the material receiving position; a cam mounted on each movable wall; and means positioned over the material receiving portion of the conveyor means for cooperation with the cams on the movable walls to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position against the action of the springs.

Claim 39

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 wherein the movable wall actuating means further comprises: a cam track disposed around the axis of rotation of the buckets; and a plurality of cam followers each connected to one of the movable walls and each operatively engaged with the cam track for actuation thereby to pivot the movable walls between the material receiving and the material dumping positions.

Claim 40

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 wherein the movable wall actuating means comprises: a plurality of cylinders each connected to one of the movable walls for actuation under fluid pressure to pivot the movable walls to the material dumping position; and valve means for controlling the actuation of the cylinders in accordance with the rotational positioning of the digging buckets.

Claim 41

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 further including a conveyor frame supported on the main frame of the vehicle and extending angularly upwardly with respect thereto to define a course of the conveyor means, an auxiliary conveyor supported at the rear end of the system for receiving material from the conveyor means, and means supporting the auxiliary conveyor for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

Claim 42

The excavating and loading system according to claim 28 further including a ballast system comprising a plurality of tanks positioned at spaced points on the vehicle and means for selectively pumping liquid between the tanks and thereby counterbalancing the weight of the auxiliary conveyor.

Claim 43

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 further including an auxiliary conveyor for receiving excavated material from the conveyor means and supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis to control the point of discharge of the material.

Claim 44

The excavating and loading system according to claim 40 further including stringer conveyor means mounted on the auxiliary conveyor and means for selectively positioning the stringer conveyor means so that material is either discharged directly from the auxiliary conveyor or is received from the auxiliary conveyor by the stringer conveyor means.

Claim 45

The excavating and loading system according to claim 40 wherein the vehicle further comprises: a frame; means supporting the frame for movement along a surface; and an engine for actuating the supporting means to propel the vehicle and for actuating the conveyor means and the auxiliary conveyor; and ballast means including ballast tanks positioned at forward and rearward positions on opposite sides of the frame for selective actuation to counterbalance the auxiliary conveyor.

Claim 46

The excavating system according to claim 32 wherein the means for directing excavated material to the conveyor means comprises a pair of cross conveyors mounted on the vehicle adjacent the excavating wheels for receiving material from the side excavating wheels and for transporting the material inwardly and wherein the conveyor means includes a conveyor centrally disposed on the vehicle for receiving material from the cross conveyors and from the center excavating wheel and for transporting the material angularly upwardly to a discharge point at the opposite end of the vehicle from the excavating wheels.

Claim 47

The excavating and loading system according to claim 32 wherein the vehicle is further characterized by: a frame; a plurality of rubber tired wheels supporting the frame for transporting the vehicle over a surface; an engine mounted on the frame; and means driven by the engine for actuating the rubber tired wheels to propel the vehicle over the surface.