U.S. patent number 3,774,741 [Application Number 05/287,673] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-27 for power chute racking device therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Construction Machinery Company. Invention is credited to James E. Johnson.
United States Patent |
3,774,741 |
Johnson |
November 27, 1973 |
POWER CHUTE RACKING DEVICE THEREFOR
Abstract
A power chute racking device is disclosed for racking the
discharge chute sections of a concrete mix truck. A first chute
section is pivotally secured to the discharge chute support means
at the rearward end of the mix truck. A hydraulic cylinder is
pivotally connected to the chute support means and the lower end of
the first chute section for raising and lowering the lower end of
the first chute section. A second discharge chute section is
pivotally connected at its upper end to the lower end of the first
discharge chute section and a third discharge chute section is
pivotally connected at its upper end to the lower end of the second
discharge chute section. A telescoping link means extends between
the discharge chute support means and the upper end of the second
discharge chute section. The telescoping link means comprises a
first link member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the
discharge chute support means and having its other end slidably
received by one end of a second link member which is pivotally
secured to the second discharge chute member. The telescoping link
means also comprises a link stop which is moveable into engagement
with the second link member to limit the inward slidable movement
of the first link member into the second link member at times. The
chute sections are racked by first pivotally folding the third
chute section over on top of the second chute section. The
hydraulic cylinder is then extended so that the link stop can be
engaged. After the link stop has been engaged, the hydraulic
cylinder is retracted so that the telescoping link means causes the
second discharge chute section, and the third discharge chute
section folded thereon, to be folded over on top of the first
discharge chute section. The discharge chute sections can be
lowered by reversing the procedure outlined above.
Inventors: |
Johnson; James E. (Waterloo,
IA) |
Assignee: |
Construction Machinery Company
(Black Hawk County, IA)
|
Family
ID: |
23103878 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/287,673 |
Filed: |
September 11, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
193/10;
193/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
11/126 (20130101); B28C 5/4251 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B28C
5/42 (20060101); B28C 5/00 (20060101); B65G
11/14 (20060101); B65G 11/00 (20060101); B65g
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;193/5,4,10,16,17 |
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blunk; Evon C.
Assistant Examiner: Lane; H. S.
Claims
I claim:
1. A power chute racking device for a concrete mix truck
comprising, a discharge chute support means at the rearward end of
the mix truck, a first discharge chute section at least pivotally
secured about a horizontal axis to said support means and having
upper and lower ends,
a hydraulic cylinder means secured to said first discharge chute
section for raising and lowering the lower end thereof with respect
to the mix truck,
a second discharge chute section having upper and lower ends and
being pivotally connected at its upper end about a horizontal axis
to the lower end of said first discharge chute section,
a telescoping link means comprising a first link member having
first and second ends and being operatively pivotally secured at
its first end to said support means, a second link member having
first and second ends and having its first end telesopically
receiving the said second end of said first link member, said
second end of said second link member being pivotally connected to
its upper end of said second discharge chute section at a location
below the pivotal connection of said first and second discharge
chute sections, and a link stop for selective engagement with said
second link member to limit the inward slidable movement of said
first link member into said second link member as said hydraulic
cylinder means is retracted so that said second discharge chute
section will be pivotally folded upwardly with respect to said
first discharge chute section.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein a third discharge chute section
having upper and lower ends is pivotally connected at its upper end
to the lower end of said second discharge chute section.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said link stop comprises an
elongated member having first and second ends, said elongated
member being operatively pivotally connected at its first end to
the said first end of said first link member, said second end of
said link stop adapted to selectively engage the said first end of
said second link member.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said second link member has means
at its first end to facilitate the selective engagement of said
link stop with said second link member.
5. The device of claim 3 wherein said link stop comprises spaced
apart arms having opposite ends and being pivotally secured at one
end to said first end of said first link member, a bar secured to
and extending between the outer ends of said arms, said link stop
being selectively movable from an inoperative position to a
position wherein said bar engages the first end of said second link
member.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein a retainer means extends from said
first end of said second link member over said bar when said bar is
in engagement with said second link member.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein means is provided on said first
discharge chute section for selectively maintaining said second
discharge chute section in its folded position.
8. The method of racking the discharge chute sections of a concrete
mix truck having at least upper and lower discharge chute sections
supported on a chute support means at the rearward end of the truck
and a hydraulic cylinder means connected to the upper chute section
for raising and lowering the same, comprising the steps of:
extending the cylinder rod of said hydraulic cylinder so that said
chute sections are pivotally raised,
positioning an elongated member between the chute support means and
the upper end of said lower chute section,
retracting the cylinder rod of said hydraulic cylinder to cause
said elongated member to pivotally fold said lower chute section at
least partially over on top of the upper chute section.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein a further chute section is
pivotally connected at its upper end to the lower end of said lower
chute section, said further chute section being folded over on top
of said lower chute section before said cylinder rod is initially
extended.
Description
A problem facing the truck driver of a concrete mix truck is the
lifting and the handling of the chute extensions on the discharge
chute. As many as three discharge chute sections are normally
employed and at least one of the discharge chute extensions must be
removed from the discharge chute when the discharge chute is to be
folded to an inoperative position. The discharge chute section or
extension which has been removed must be stowed on the truck which
is obviously a time consuming and inefficient operation.
Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a
power chute racking device for racking the discharge chute sections
of a concrete mix truck.
A further object of this invention is to provide a power chute
racking device which permits the carrying and racking of one more
chute section than is possible with conventional devices.
A further object of this invention is to provide a power chute
racking device including a telescoping link means which may be
selectively operated to cause the second and third chute sections
to be folded over on top of the first discharge chute section upon
actuation of the hydraulic cylinder connected to the first
discharge chute section.
A further object of this invention is to provide a power chute
racking device which eliminates the need for removing the lowermost
discharge chute section when the discharge chute is to be placed in
an inoperative condition for traveling purposes.
A further object of this invention is to provide a power chute
racking device which is economical in manufacture, durable in use,
and refined in appearance.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and
combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects
contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,
specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a concrete mix truck having the device of
this invention mounted thereon:
FIG. 2 is a top view of the devices as seen along lines 2--2 of
FIG. 1 with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the
invention:
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the telescoping link means:
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the chutes in their extended position
and the telescoping link stop disengaged:
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 except that the lowermost chute
section has been pivoted on top of the second chute section and the
hydraulic cylinder extended and the telescoping link stop
engaged:
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating the manner
in which the second and third chute sections are folded over on top
of the first section; and
FIG. 7 illustrates the chute sections in their folded
conditions.
The numeral 10 refers to conventional concrete mix truck having a
discharge chute support means 12 at the rearward end thereof. A
chute section 14 is pivotally connected at its upper end about a
horizontal axis at 16 to the support means 12. A double acting
hydraulic cylinder 18 is pivotally connected at its base end to the
support means 12 and is pivotally connected at its rod end to
bracket 20 secured to the lower end of the chute section 14. The
numeral 22 refers to an over-center toggle secured to one side of
the chute section 14 and having a chain 24 secured thereto. A plate
26 is secured to the free end of the chain 24 and has an opening 28
formed therein. The numeral 30 refers to a rubber faced bumper
secured to the chute section 14.
Chute section 32 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the
lower end of chute section 14 at 34. Chute section 36 is pivotally
connected at its upper end to the lower end of chute section 32 at
38. A chain anchor stud 40 is secured to chute section 32 at one
side thereof and extends outwardly therefrom adapted to have the
plate 26 on chain 24 received thereon as will be described in more
detail hereinafter.
The numeral 42 refers generally to a telescoping link means
comprising link members 44 and 46. Link member 46 is pivotally
connected about a horizontal axis to a pin 48 secured to and
extending laterally outwardly of the upper end of chute section 32.
A shaft 50 is pivotally secured about a horizontal axis to the
support means 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The upper end of link
member 44 is pivotally mounted on the outer of the shaft 50 as
illustrated in the drawings. A telescoping link stop 52 is also
mounted on the shaft 50 and may be moved between the disengaged
position seen in FIG. 4 to the engaged position seen in FIG. 5
through the use of the shaft 50. Link stop 52 comprises arms 54 and
56 having a stop 58 secured to the ends thereof and extending
therebetween. The numeral 60 refers to a limit element secured to
the upper end of link 46 which is adapted to receive the stop 58
therebeneath as also illustrated in the drawing.
Assuming that the discharge chute sections 14, 32, and 36 are in
their extended position as illustrated in FIG. 4, the normal method
of racking the same is as follows. Chute section 36 is folded over
so as to engage the upper end of chute section 32 as illustrated in
FIG. 5. The hydraulic cylinder 18 is then actuated so that the rod
thereof is extended which causes the chute section 14, and hence
chute sections 32 and 34, to be pivotally raised. When the chute
sections have been pivotally raised to the position of FIG. 5, the
link stop 52 is then moved from the disengaged position of FIG. 4
to its engaged position so that the element 58 will be positioned
below the element 60. The hydraulic cylinder 18 is then actuated to
withdraw the rod thereof thereinto. The link stop 52 prevent
slidably movement between link members 44 and 46 which causes the
telescoping link means 42 to apply a force to the chute section 32
so that the second chute section will be raised upwardly into the
racked position against the bumper 30. Plate 26 on chain 24 is then
placed over the anchor stud 40 and the toggle 22 moved to the
locked position. FIG. 7 illustrates the hydraulic cylinder 18 in
the fully retracted position while the chutes being in the upend
locked position.
The discharge chute sections can be lowered into their operative
position by reversing the procedure outlined above. The toggle 22
is released to permit the plate 26 to be removed from the anchor
stud 40. The hydraulic cylinder is actuated to extend the rod
therefrom which causes the chute section 32 to pivotally move with
respect to the chute section 14 from the position of FIG. 7 to the
position of FIG. 5. The link stop 52 is then moved to its
disengaged position so that the hydraulic cylinder 18 can be
retracted. Retraction of the cylinder 18 with the link stop 52 in
the disengaged position permits the chute sections to be moved to
the position of FIG. 4. The chute section 36 is then also manually
pivoted downwardly to its operative position.
Thus it can be seen that a novel power racking device has been
provided for racking the chute sections of a concrete mix truck.
The power racking device disclosed herein permits an additional
chute section to be racked without the necessity for removing the
same for storing on the mix truck. The power racking device of this
invention does not interfere with the normal operation of the mix
truck and provides a convenient means for racking the discharge
chutes. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least
all of its stated objectives.
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