U.S. patent number 3,618,676 [Application Number 04/776,892] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-09 for crumbing mechanism for excavating machines or the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Cleveland Trencher Company. Invention is credited to Vincent S. Penote, Melvin K. Rear.
United States Patent |
3,618,676 |
Penote , et al. |
November 9, 1971 |
CRUMBING MECHANISM FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES OR THE LIKE
Abstract
A crumbing mechanism for excavating machines including a
mounting assembly for detachable connection to the boom structure
of the machine and a crumbing shoe having a boxlike and reinforced
bridge construction detachably connected by the mounting assembly
to the boom for excavating operations rearwardly of the digging
unit of the machine. The mounting assembly includes a selectively
adjustable and lockable arrangement for laterally orienting and
locking the crumbing shoe in its active position in aligned
following relation rearwardly of the machine digging unit, and the
mounting assembly and crumbing shoe conjunctively include a
selectively adjustable and lockable arrangement for selectively
raising or lowering the crumbing shoe into and out of active
position.
Inventors: |
Penote; Vincent S. (Shaker
Heights, OH), Rear; Melvin K. (Chesterland, OH) |
Assignee: |
The Cleveland Trencher Company
(Cleveland, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25108665 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/776,892 |
Filed: |
November 19, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
172/703; 37/94;
172/72; 172/200; 37/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F
3/20 (20130101); E02F 3/188 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02F
3/18 (20060101); E02F 3/20 (20060101); E02F
5/02 (20060101); E01f 005/14 (); E02f 005/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;37/83,84,86-91,94-97
;172/666,743,600,459,460,71,72,200,785 ;214/138 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pulfrey; Robert E.
Assistant Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Claims
We claim: 1A crumbing mechanism for excavating machines of the type
having a chassis and a boom support structure pivotally mounted
thereon and extending outwardly therefrom, said mechanism
comprising,
mounting means mounted on said support structure adjacent the outer
end thereof,
said mounting means including a generally boxlike body pivotally
connected to said support structure for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis,
an elongated, generally vertically depending crumbing shoe mounted
at one end on and for pivotal movement with said mounting
means,
said body being open at least at one end and being adapted to
receive said one end of said crumbing shoe in locked relation
therein, and
a selectively adjustable means associated with said mounting means
and said support structure for angularly orienting said mounting
means about said horizontal axis for orienting said crumbing shoe
with said excavating machine,
said selectively adjustable means includes a pair of spaced,
oppositely disposed generally arcuate slots disposed in said
mounting means, and
a selectively adjustable fastener element adapted to be freely
disposed through each of said slots for securement with said
support structure to enable movement of said mounting means about
its pivotal axis and to prevent such movement upon actuation of
said fastener elements. 2A crumbing mechanism in accordance with
claim 1 wherein
said boxlike body being defined by a pair of spaced, oppositely
disposed sideplate members, and
said one end of said crumbing shoe being adapted to be inserted and
adjustably held in locked relation between said plate members. 3A
crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 1 including
another selectively adjustable means associated with said mounting
means and said crumbing shoe for locking said crumbing shoe in a
raised or lowered operating position. 4A crumbing mechanism in
accordance with claim 1 wherein
said crumbing shoe includes an upper attachment section and a
depending crumbing shoe section,
said attachment section including a plurality of pairs of axially
aligned apertures therein,
said boxlike body including a plurality of opposed pairs of axially
aligned apertures therein arranged for registration with respective
pairs of apertures in said attachment section for selectively
positioning said crumbing shoe in a raised or lowered active
position. 5A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 4
wherein
at least one pair of said apertures being offset with respect to
the other of said pairs of apertures for positioning said crumbing
shoe in the
raised position. 6. A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim
1, including
selectively adjustable locking means associated with said mounting
means and said one end of said crumbing shoe for selectively
raising and lowering said crumbing shoe with respect to said
support structure. 7A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim
6, wherein
said selectively adjustable locking means includes a plurality of
registerable pairs of apertures in said mounting means, and said
one end of said crumbing shoe, and
at least one detachable locking element adapted for insertion
through a registered pair of said apertures to prevent shifting
movement of said
crumbing shoe with respect to said mounting means. 8. A crumbing
mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein
said crumbing shoe is of a generally boxlike construction including
an upper attachment section and a depending crumbing shoe section
having a generally bridgelike reinforcement construction,
the latter section including an elongated generally planar rear
support member and a spaced, generally arcuate forward support
member joined together at the end remote from said attachment
section by an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom member,
and
a plurality of spaced, angularly disposed brace members extending
between and holding said members together in generally rigid
relation throughout their length thereof. 9A crumbing mechanism in
accordance with claim 8 wherein
said forward support member and said bottom member each include a
correspondingly shaped wear plate member disposed on the exterior
thereof, and
said wear plates merging at the lowermost extremity of said
crumbing shoe section in a generally sharp toelike structure. 10A
crumbing mechanism for excavating machines of the type having a
chassis and a boom support structure pivotally mounted thereon and
extending outwardly therefrom, said mechanism comprising,
mounting means mounted on said support structure adjacent the outer
end thereof,
said mounting means including a generally boxlike body pivotally
connected to said support structure for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis,
an elongated, generally vertically depending crumbing shoe mounted
at one end on and for pivotal movement with said mounting
means,
said body being open at least at one end and being adapted to
receive said one end of said crumbing shoe in locked relation
therein,
a selectively adjustable means associated with said mounting means
and said support structure for angularly orienting said mounting
means about said horizontal axis for orienting said crumbing shoe
with said excavating machine, and
said selectively adjustable means includes a pair of spaced
fastener elements threadedly disposed through said mounting means
and adapted for bearing engagement with the confronting surface of
said support structure. 1A crumbing mechanism in accordance with
claim 10 including
selectively adjustable locking means associated with said mounting
means and said one end of said crumbing shoe for selectively
raising and lowering said crumbing shoe with respect to said
support structure. 12A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim
11 wherein
said selectively adjustable locking means includes a plurality of
registerable pairs of apertures in said mounting means, and said
one end of said crumbing shoe, and
at least one detachable locking element adapted for insertion
through a registered pair of said apertures to prevent shifting
movement of said crumbing shoe with respect to said mounting means.
13A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 10 wherein
said boxlike body being defined by a pair of spaced, oppositely
disposed sideplate members, and
said one end of said crumbing shoe being adapted to be inserted and
adjustably held in locked relation between said plate members. 14A
crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 13 including
a transversely extending support bracket attached to and extending
outwardly from said plate members adapted for overlying supporting
engagement on said support structure, and
other selectively adjustable means threadably disposed through said
bracket and adapted for selectively adjustable engagement with said
support structure. 15A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim
10 wherein
said crumbing shoe is of a generally boxlike construction including
an upper attachment section and a depending crumbing shoe section
having a generally bridgelike reinforcement construction,
the latter section including an elongated generally planar rear
support member and a spaced, generally arcuate forward support
member joined together at the end remote from said attachment
section by an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom member,
and
a plurality of spaced, angularly disposed brace members extending
between and holding said members together in generally rigid
relation throughout their length thereof. 16A crumbing mechanism in
accordance with claim 15 wherein
said forward support member and said bottom member each include a
correspondingly shaped wear plate member disposed on the exterior
thereof, and
said wear plates merging at the lowermost extremity of said
crumbing shoe section in a generally sharp toelike structure. 17A
crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 10, including
another selectively adjustable means associated with said mounting
means and said crumbing shoe for locking said crumbing shoe in a
raised or lowered operating position. 18A crumbing mechanism in
accordance with claim 10 wherein
said crumbing shoe includes an upper attachment section and a
depending crumbing shoe section,
said attachment section including a plurality of pairs of axially
aligned apertures therein,
at least one pair of said apertures being offset with respect to
the other of said pairs of apertures, and
said boxlike body including a plurality of opposed pairs of axially
aligned apertures therein arranged for registration with respective
pairs of apertures in said attachment section for selectively
positioning said crumbing shoe in a raised or lowered active
position. 19A crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 18
wherein
at least one pair of said apertures being offset with respect to
the other of said pairs of apertures for positioning said crumbing
shoe in the raised position. 20A crumbing mechanism for excavating
machines of the type having a chassis and a boom support structure
pivotally mounted thereon and extending outwardly therefrom, said
mechanism comprising,
mounting means mounted on said support structure adjacent the outer
end thereof,
said mounting means including a generally boxlike body pivotally
connected to said support structure for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis,
an elongated, generally vertically depending crumbing shoe mounted
at one end on and for pivotal movement with said mounting
means,
said body being open at least at one end being adapted to receive
said one end of said crumbing shoe in locked relation therein,
a plurality of spaced, fastener elements adjustably mounted on said
mounting means being adapted for coacting locking engagement with
said support structure, and
each of said fastener elements bearingly engaging said support
structure and coacting with one another to prevent angular movement
of said mounting means about said horizontal axis and selectively
orient said boxlike body with respect to said support structure.
21A crumbing mechanism for excavating machines and the like
comprising,
mounting means adapted for pivotal mounting on a support structure
of an excavating machine,
an elongated crumbing shoe mounted at one end on and for pivotal
movement with said mounting means,
selectively adjustable means associated with said support structure
and said mounting means for selectively controlling lateral,
pivotal movement of said crumbing shoe with respect to said
machine,
said mounting means includes a generally boxlike body open at least
at one end defined by a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed
sideplate members,
said one end of said crumbing shoe being adapted to be inserted and
adjustably held in locked relation between said members,
said body being pivotally connectable to said support structure for
pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis,
a transversely extending support bracket attached to and extending
outwardly from said plate members adapted for overlying supporting
engagement on said support structure, and
other selectively adjustable means threadably disposed through said
bracket and adapted for selectively adjustable bearing engagement
with said
support structure. 22. A crumbing mechanism for excavating machines
of the type having a chassis and a boom support structure pivotally
mounted thereon and extending outwardly therefrom, said mechanism
comprising,
mounting means mounted on said support structure adjacent the outer
end thereof,
said mounting means including a generally boxlike body pivotally
connected to said support structure for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis,
an elongated, generally vertically depending crumbing shoe mounted
at one end on and for pivotal movement with said mounting
means,
said body being open at least at one end and being adapted to
receive said one end of said crumbing shoe in locked relation
therein, and
a selectively adjustable means associated with said mounting means
and said support structure for angularly orienting said mounting
means about said horizontal axis for orienting said crumbing shoe
with said excavating machine,
a transversely extending support bracket attached to and extending
outwardly from said boxlike body adapted for overlying supporting
engagement on said support structure, and
said selectively adjustable means threadably disposed through said
bracket and adapted for selectively adjustable bearing engagement
with said support structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in excavating,
trenching or ditching machines, and more particularly relates to an
improved construction for a crumbing mechanism which may be
selectively and expeditiously oriented into and out of the active
position with respect to the digging unit of the machine
Heretofore, crumbing mechanisms for excavating machines have been
known in the art which generally include a crumbing shoe attached
to the outer end of a boom structure. This shoe extends downwardly
from the boom to the floor of the trench or excavation, and is
shaped so as to shove or propel loose material on the floor of the
excavation forwardly so that it may be picked up by the digging
unit of the machine and removed from the excavation to maintain the
floor of the excavation relatively clean. In addition, such
crumbing mechanism also facilitates maintenance of a constant grade
trench bottom by stabilization of the digging unit at its depth of
operation. It has also been known in the art to swingably mount
such crumbing mechanism on the outer end of the boom for pivotal
movement in a generally vertical plane, so that the crumbing shoe
can be selectively moved into and out of active position, thus
providing for raising of the shoe clear of the trench, and thereby
increasing the positioning characteristics of the machine. Various
mechanisms for so pivoting the crumbing mechanism have included
various types of cable and crank arrangements, geared winding drums
and/or lever arrangements or power-actuated fluid cylinder
arrangements. Though for the most part being satisfactory for these
purposes, such prior machines have not generally contemplated the
problems nor have they provided a satisfactory construction for a
crumbing mechanism which can be quickly and easily mounted on the
boom for selective and expeditious lateral orientation of the
crumbing shoe so as to maintain the shoe in generally parallel and
aligned following relation rearwardly of the digging unit of the
machine for precise crumbing operations within the trench, and
particularly with respect to relatively deep and narrow
excavations. In addition, such prior machines have not provided an
efficient arrangement for raising and lowering the crumbing shoe
into and out of active position within a predetermined limited
range with respect to the boom, and hence with respect to the
bottom of the excavation. Furthermore, prior crumbing mechanisms
have not provided a completely satisfactory construction for the
crumbing shoe so as to incorporate relatively lightweight, yet
high-strength characteristics for the crumbing operations and which
acts to stabilize the digging unit at the desired depth of
operation so as to maintain a relatively constant grade at the
bottom of the excavation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A crumbing mechanism for mounting adjacent one end of a boom
structure of an excavating machine or the like comprising, a
mounting assembly having selectively adjustable means for laterally
orienting the assembly with respect to the boom and locking means
for locking the assembly in the laterally oriented and aligned
active position on the boom. A crumbing shoe including an
attachment means adjacent one end is adapted for selectively
adjustable detachable connection to the mounting assembly so that
the crumbing shoe is maintained in generally parallel and aligned
relation with respect to the digging unit of the machine. The
crumbing shoe includes an elongated boxlike structure having a
reinforced bridgelike construction which extends downwardly from
the attachment means. The crumbing shoe includes a generally
arcuate, in side elevation forward section and a spaced, generally
planar rearward section which sections terminate at the ends remote
from the attachment means in a toe and heel structure for
engagement with the bottom of the excavation.
By the foregoing arrangement, there is provided a novel crumbing
mechanism which is of a simple, yet rugged, lightweight
construction for use with excavating machines, and particularly for
crumbing operations within relatively deep and narrow excavations.
The crumbing mechanism includes a novel mounting assembly for
selectively and expeditiously positioning the crumbing shoe into
and out of active position and includes a locking arrangement which
is operative to lock the crumbing shoe in the active or inactive
position upon simple manual actuation, which is made from a minimum
number of parts, and which requires a minimum of time and effort
for assembly and disassembly thereof. By this arrangement, the
crumbing shoe may be selectively laterally oriented with respect to
the digging unit of the machine so as to be maintained in generally
parallel and aligned following relation rearwardly of the digging
unit. In addition, by this arrangement the crumbing shoe may be
quickly and easily raised and lowered within a predetermined
dimensional range by simple manual actuation so as to accommodate
the crumbing shoe to various size digging units and/or with respect
to the excavation to be dug. The crumbing shoe is of an elongated
boxlike structure which has a reinforced bridgelike construction to
incorporate lightweight, yet high-strength characteristics for
stabilizing the digging unit, thereby maintaining a relatively
constant grade at the bottom of the excavation. This improved
crumbing mechanism is comparatively uncomplicated in construction
and can be readily employed with existing excavating machines or
can be readily embodied in new machines with a minimum expense and
effort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the crumbing mechanism of the
invention and shown mounted on an excavating machine of the type
with which it may be employed;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary generally perspective view
showing the mounting assembly and crumbing shoe of the invention as
mounted on the boom structure of the machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of a part of the
mounting assembly removed from the assembly of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view, partially
cut away, of the crumbing mechanism of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of the crumbing shoe
removed from the assembly of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the crumbing shoe shown in FIG.
5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In general, and referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is
illustrated an excavating machine, designated generally at 2, which
may be employed in the instant invention. As shown, such machine
may include a main frame 6 supported on rotatable tractor treads 8
for movement along the ground, and a main powerplant 10, such as an
internal combustion engine or the like, supported on the forward
end of the frame 6. A mast structure 11 is mounted on the rearward
end of the frame 6 for pivotally supporting, as at 12, a vertically
movable boom structure 13. An endless digging wheel or unit 14 is
rotatably mounted on the boom structure 13 by means of a frame 15
and wheel 16 arrangement, and drivingly connected to the motor unit
10 by a chain and sprocket arrangement, designated generally at 17.
The boom structure 13 being pivotally connected to the mast
structure 11 may be pivoted through a generally vertical plane and
may be raised or lowered on the mast structure 11 by a suitable
carriage arrangement, not shown. The boom structure 13 may be
actuated by a cable 18 and pulley 18a arrangement by means of
winding drums 19 mounted on the machine frame in a manner known in
the art. It will be understood that other structural arrangements
and systems could be utilized for controlling the movement of the
boom structure 13 and associated digging unit 14 without departing
from the scope of the invention.
In the machine shown, the digging unit 14 includes a plurality of
digging elements 7 which cooperate in a sawtooth relation for
excavating operations. The frame 6 also mounts adjacent its
rearward end a plowlike arrangement 9 for transferring excavated
material discharged from the digging unit 14. Reference is made to
the copending U.S. Pat. application of Vincent S. Penote et al.,
Ser. No. 783,244 filed Dec. 12, 1968, for a detail showing of the
digging elements and plow arrangement which may be used in
conjunction with the novel crumbing mechanism of the present
invention. It is to be understood, however, that the crumbing
mechanism of the instant invention may be employed with other
excavating, trenching or ditching machines, as desired.
Now in accordance with the invention, the crumbing mechanism
includes a mounting assembly 20 which may be detachably connected
for selective angular orientation on a generally U-shaped
cross-structure 21 (FIG. 2) which is attached, as by weldments or
the like, adjacent the free end of the boom structure 13. The
assembly 20 detachably mounts an elongated, boxlike structure 50
generally known as a crumbing shoe on the cross-structure 21 in a
manner so that the crumbing shoe may be selectively laterally
oriented and raised or lowered into the active position with
respect to the digging unit 14, as shown in FIG. 1.
The mounting assembly 20, in the form shown, includes a boxlike
body 22 having an attachment bracket 24 which together define the
generally T-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 3. The body 22
includes a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed sideplates 26 and 28
which extend generally parallel to one another and which are
connected together intermediate their ends by a back or cross plate
30. The plates 26 and 28 are provided adjacent their opposed ends
with registered apertures 32 and 36 which are adapted to receive
therethrough suitable fasteners 65 and 67 (FIG. 2), such as
cotter-held bolts, in the installed position thereof. The body 22
is pivotally mounted on the cross-structure 21 by means of a
fastener 35, such as a bolt, which is insertable through an
aperture 34 in the plate and through another aperture 36 provided
in a blocklike member 37 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which may be attached, as
by weldments or the like, to the underside of the boom structure
13. The fastener 35 may be adjustably locked by a retainer 38',
such as a nut or the like, so as to provide a pivot center for
rotational movement of the mounting assembly about a generally
horizontal axis with respect to the support structure 21.
As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bracket plate 24 is generally of
an S-shaped, in side elevation, construction which includes a
generally vertically extending cross plate 42 which may be secured,
as by weldments or the like, to the back of the sideplates 26 and
28. The plate 42 is provided adjacent its upper end with an
integral outwardly extending generally lateral flange plate 44
which includes a pair of oppositely disposed threaded apertures 46
adapted to receive therethrough suitable fasteners 47 (FIGS. 2 and
4), such as setscrews or the like. By this arrangement, the
fasteners 47 may be threadedly inserted through the apertures 46 so
as to coactingly bear against the confronting upper surface of the
cross-structure 21 to facilitate angular orientation of the
mounting assembly 20 about its pivotal connection, as at 34, 35, as
aforesaid.
In the invention, the plate 42 is provided with a pair of generally
arcuate slots 48 (FIG. 3) disposed on opposite sides of plates 26
and 28 which are adapted to receive fasteners 49, such as bolts or
the like, which may be inserted through apertured channel members
39 (FIG. 4) which may be secured interiorly adjacent the end of the
boom 13. The fastener 49 may be adjustably locked by suitable
retainers 49', such as nuts or the like, to selectively lock the
mounting assembly 20 by means of the clearance provided by the
slots 48 in the desired angular orientation with respect to the
pivot center 34, 35 to achieve an effective parallel alignment of
the crumbing shoe 50 with respect to the digging unit 14.
The plate 42 may further include adjacent its bottom a pair of
spaced, oppositely disposed webs 38 and 40 of generally triangular
configuration (FIG. 2) which may be secured, as by weldments or the
like, to the sideplates 26 and 28 to enhance the strength
characteristics of the combined body 22 and bracket 24 arrangement
of the mounting assembly 20. As shown, the distance or width W
between the plates 26 and 28 is preferably dimensioned so as to be
slightly greater than the maximum outside width W' of the
attachment means 52 of the crumbing shoe 50 (FIG. 6), as will be
described hereinafter.
As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the crumbing shoe 50 is of an
elongated boxlike structure having an attachment section 52 and a
depending shoe section 54 having a bridgelike reinforced
construction and which terminates in an angularly inclined heel and
toe section 56. The upper attachment section 52 includes a boxlike
body defined by a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed sideplates 58
and 60 which are joined together intermediate their ends by a
generally U-shaped bridgepiece 66.
Ready raising or lowering of the crumbing shoe 50 may be achieved
by providing opposed ends of each of the plates 58 and 60 with two
pairs of spaced, aligned apertures 62, 64 and 68, 70, respectively,
which are registerable with the respective apertures 36 and 32 in
the mounting assembly 20. The respective registered apertures are
adapted to receive locking elements 65 and 67, such as cotter-held
bolts or the like. By this arrangement, the attachment section 52
may slide between the sideplates 26 and 28 of the mounting assembly
20 and may be locked therein against further movement for holding
the crumbing shoe 50 in a raised or lowered position by
registration of the locking elements 65 and 67, as desired. The
plates 58 and 60 are each made from a single piece of rigid
metallic material including a reduced-width inclined section 59 and
an integral enlarged weblike section 61. Preferably, the upper
section 59 is disposed at an inclined angle (c), such as about
22.degree., with respect to the section 61.
The depending crumbing shoe section 54 is of a bridgelike
reinforced construction including a generally planar vertically
extending rear channel plate 80 and a spaced generally arcuate, in
side elevation, forward channel plate 82 which plates 80 and 82 are
secured, such as by weldments or the like, at their upper ends to
the sideplates 58 and 60 of the attachment section 52. The plates
80 and 82 are attached at the opposite or bottom ends by an
inclined channel plate 83 which is preferably disposed at an angle
(d), such as about 73.degree., with reference to the general plane
of the plate 80. In the embodiment shown, the plates 80 and 82 are
attached together by a plurality of pairs of crosspieces or braces,
such as 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 and 102, which extend
transversely therebetween and adjacent opposed marginal edges of
the plates 80 and 82. In the invention, the braces are all disposed
at a predetermined angular relation with respect to one another and
with respect to the plates 80, 82, and 83 to maximize the strength
characteristics of the crumbing shoe. For example, it is preferred
that the brace pairs 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96 and 98 be disposed
at an angle of about 90.degree. with respect to one another while
the brace pairs 98 and 100 are disposed at an angle of about
60.degree. with respect to one another. In addition, the brace
pairs 100 and 102 would be disposed at an angle of 90.degree. with
respect to one another while the pair 102 are disposed at right
angles with respect to the plate 83 to provide the structural
arrangement shown. Moreover, it will be seen by this arrangement
that the 60.degree. or 90.degree. intersection between the
respective brace pairs alternate or are disposed in staggered
relation with respect to one another in a direction from the upper
toward the lower end of the crumbing shoe to enhance the strength
characteristics during normal usage thereof.
In the invention, the bottom plate 83 is provided on its underside
with an under shoe plate 104 which may be secured thereto, such as
by weldments or the like, while the forward plate 82 may be
provided with a forward shoe plate 106 secured in a similar manner
thereto. The plates are preferably made of a high-strength wear-
and abrasion-resistant material, such as heat-hardened steel or the
like, which may be readily replaced upon damage thereto or when it
is desired to excavate a relatively wider trench or the like. The
plates 104 and 106 merge together at one end, as at 108, to provide
a relatively sharp toelike juncture for engagement with the
excavated material within the trench. The plate 104 extends
generally upwardly and outwardly (FIG. 5) away from the juncture
108 and is disposed at the aforementioned pitch angle (d) so as to
provide a heellike structure for smooth sliding engagement with
respect to the excavated material within the trench. Commencing at
the point of tangency T (FIG. 5) or about one-third the distance
below the sideplates 58 and 60, the crumbing shoe section 54 has a
radius of curvature R generally corresponding to that of the
digging unit or wheel 14 to maximize the crumbing operation during
excavation by the digging unit.
In a typical installation, the mounting assembly 20 may be
preassembled or assembled on the boom structure 13 by supporting
the plate 44 on a confronting upper surface of the cross-structure
21 and by suitably tightening the pivot fasteners 35 and 38'. The
attachment section 52 of the crumbing shoe 50 may then be disposed
between the sideplates 58 and 60 and locked in position by the
locking elements 65 and 67, whereupon, the shoe may then be raised
or lowered within predetermined dimensional limits as determined by
the respective registerable apertures 62, 64, 68 and 70. Thus
assembled, the crumbing shoe may then be laterally oriented in
parallel aligned relation with respect to the digging unit 14 by
selectively threadably actuating the pair of adjustment elements 47
(i.e. setscrews), which act to swing the shoe laterally either
clockwise or counterclockwise about the pivot center 34, 35, so
that the fasteners 49 ride in the arcuate slots 48 to control the
extent of such movement for positioning the shoe in the desired
aligned relation. Thus positioned, the pivot center fasteners 35,
38 and the pair of fasteners 49 may then be finally tightened for
locking the crumbing shoe in the installed position thereof.
The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of
description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the
use of such terms and descriptions of excluding any equivalents of
any of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, and
it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the
scope of the invention claimed.
* * * * *