Mechanical chain adjuster for scraper elevator chains
AssigneeInternational Harvester Company
InventorsEdward D. Duke, Joan M. Riordan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain tension maintenance device for use with the bowl loading elevator of the excavating scraper variety which is adjustable to vary the slack in the chain and paddle structure. At least one idler arm having bell crank geometry is pivotally mounted to the elevator frame through a first pivot point. An idler wheel axially mounted at a second pivot point of the idler arm, is urged into tension maintaining contact with the elevator chains by force exerted through the third pivot point of the idler arm by an adjustable turnbuckle grounded to the elevator frame.
Claims21
An elevating scraper vehicle having an elevator including an elevator frame, a driven cross support tube having a sprocket at each end thereof carried on a first end of said elevator frame, a lower shaft having a chain guide at each end thereof mounted to a second end of said elevator frame, a pair of endless elevator chains carried around said sprocket and said chain guide of said cross support tube and said lower shaft respectively and a plurality of paddles transversely mounted to each elevator chain, and a pair of chain tensioners each chain tensioner comprising:
- a turnbuckle anchor, fixedly mounted to said elevator frame;
- a turnbuckle having a first end attached to said turnbuckle anchor;
- a bracket fixedly mounted to said elevator frame between said turnbuckle anchor and said driven cross support tube;
- an idler arm pivotally mounted to said bracket on said elevator frame, said idler arm attached to a second end of said turnbuckle;
- an idler wheel mounted for rotational movement to said idler arm in the same plane as said endless chain between said frame and said chain whereby adjustment of said turnbuckle resulting in a decreased length thereof urges said idler wheel against said chain urging said chain away from said elevator frame increasing the chain tension.
An elevating scraper vehicle having an elevator including an elevator frame, a driven cross support tube having a sprocket at each end thereof carried on a first end of said elevator frame, a lower shaft having a chain guide at each end thereof mounted to a second end of said elevator frame, a pair of endless elevator chains carried around said sprocket and said chain guide of said cross support tube and lower shaft respectively, a plurality of paddles transversely mounted to each elevator chain, and a pair of chain tensioners, each chain tensioner comprising:
- a first and a second apertured tab spaced apart from each other and fixedly mounted to said elevator frame;
- a turnbuckle guide having a large central aperture fixedly mounted to said elevator frame midway between said pair of tabs;
- a turnbuckle passing through said aperture of said turnbuckle guide, the turnbuckle having an elongated central body portion equipped with a pair of external turnbuckle travel limiting flanges preventing lateral movement of the turnbuckle through said apertured turnbuckle guide;
- a pair of idler arms each pivotally mounted to one of said first and second on said elevator frame, said idler arms further being pivotally attached to said turnbuckle;
- a pair of idler wheels, one mounted for rotational movement to each of said idler arms in the same plane as said endless chain between said frame and said chain whereby adjustment of said turnbuckle resulting in a decreased length thereof urges said pair of idler wheels against said chain urging said chain away from said elevator frame increasing the chain tension.
In an elevating scraper vehicle having an elevator including an elevator frame, a driven cross support tube having a sprocket at each end thereof carried on a first end of said elevator frame, a lower shaft having a chain guide at each end thereof mounted to a second end of said elevator frame, a pair of continuous elevator chains carried around said sprocket and said chain guide of said cross support tube and said lower shaft respectively, a plurality of paddles transversely mounted to each elevator chain, and a pair of chain tensioners, each chain tensioner comprising:
- a turnbuckle support fixedly mounted to said elevator frame;
- a turnbuckle having a first end attached to said turnbuckle support;
- a bracket fixedly mounted to said elevator frame between said support and said driven cross support tube;
- an idler arm pivotally mounted to said bracket on said elevator frame, said idler arm attached to a second end of said turnbuckle;
- a pair of idler wheels mounted for rotational movement on said idler arm in the same plane as said endless chain between said frame and said chain whereby adjustment of said turnbuckle resulting in a descreased length thereof urges said idler wheels against said chain, one idler wheel affecting chain tension on one side of the frame and the second idler wheel affecting chain tension on the other side of the frame.
In an elevator of an elevating scraper having an elevator frame, a pair of driven sprockets and a pair of non-driven sprockets, a pair of elevator chains carried by respective driven and non-driven sprockets the chains connected together by a plurality of transverse paddles and a pair of chain tensioners comprising:
- a support fixedly mounted to said elevator frame between said driven sprocket and said non-driven sprocket;
- a turnbuckle having a first and a second end pivotally mounted to said support and said first end;
- an idler arm having a plurality of apertures the first aperture to which said second end of said turnbuckle is pivotally mounted;
- a bracket fixedly mounted to said elevator frame between said support and said non-driven sprocket to which said idler arm is pivotally mounted through a second of said apertures in said idler arm;
- an idler wheel supported for rotational movement in the third of said apertures of said idler arm said idler wheel in engaged relationship with said elevator chain whereby adjustment of said turnbuckle will result in an desired amount of chain tension and said idler wheel urges said chain outwardly from said elevator frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.