Earth mover with an elevator having chain tensioning mechanism

• US 5,960,571 A
• Filed: 12/11/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Noble Construction Equipment, Inc. (Manitex International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Meyer, Jeffrey, Perry, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shackelford, H.
• Application Number:
  US08/989,068
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 37/423, 37/422, 37/411, 37/416, 37/419, 198/813, 198/814, 198/520
• US Class Current: 37/411
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6481 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/65 Component parts, e.g. drives, control devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/655 Loading or elevator mechanisms loading devices for excavators in general E02F7/04

Abstract

An earth mover scraper combination having chain driven elevator drive sprockets for each of two chains which are mounted on plates that include pins extending into the frame of the elevator support. Two jacks are likewise inserted into the frame of the elevator support and can be used to force the pins away from the frame support thereby forcing the sprocket away from the frame support and tensioning the chain. Preferably, the jack is a hydraulic jack that can be operated with a simple grease gun. Metal shims are then placed between the mounting bracket and the frame assembly to maintain the chain tension.

Claims

1. An earth mover scraper combination comprising a bowl having first and second side walls, an elevator assembly supported by said bowl;

said elevator assembly having first and second side frame members;

said side frame members each having upper and lower sprockets at distal ends thereof;

an upper horizontal frame member extending between said side frame members;

first and second chains each running on said upper and lower sprockets of said side frame member;

a plurality of horizontal blades fixed to said chains wherein said upper sprockets each include a support member extending into bores in upper ends of said side frame members;

a jack located within one side of said upper horizontal frame member and adapted to move one of said support members relative to said upper end and thereby increase tension on said chain;

wherein each said support member includes a plate and a post extending into said bore and wherein said jack is positioned to engage and move said post thereby spacing said plate from said horizontal support; and

a plurality of shims adapted to be placed between said plate and said horizontal support.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said plate includes two aligned plate lugs and further wherein said sprocket is attached to two aligned sprocket lugs wherein said plate lugs and said sprocket lugs are held together by a pin.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said jack is a hydraulic jack.

4. An apparatus claimed in claim 1 having two jacks, one positioned in left and right ends of said horizontal frame member, one each aligned with said plates.

6. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said sprocket lugs includes elliptical holes.

5. An earth mover scraper combination comprising a bowl having first and second side walls, an elevator assembly supported by said bowl:

said elevator assembly having first and second side frame members;

said side frame members each having upper and lower sprockets at distal ends thereof;

an upper horizontal frame member extending between said side frame members;

first and second chains each running on said upper and lower sprockets of said side frame member;

a plurality of horizontal blades fixed to said chains wherein said upper sprockets each include a support member extending into bores in upper ends of said side frame members;

a jack located within one side of said upper horizontal frame member and adapted to move one of said support members relative to said upper end and thereby increase tension on said chain;

wherein one of said support members each includes lugs at least one of said lugs having an elliptical hole.

7. An earth mover scraper combination comprising:

a bowl having first and second side walls;

an elevator assembly supported by said bowl;

said elevator assembly having first and second side frame members each of said side frame members having upper and lower sprockets and upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between said side frame members wherein said upper horizontal frame members extend beyond said side walls of said bowl and are mounted to said earth mover by elevator support arms rotatably mounted on the exterior portions of said side walls;

first and second chains one each running on said upper and lower sprockets of said side frame members;

a plurality of horizontal blades fixed at distal ends thereof to said chains;

wherein said upper sprockets each include a support member;

said support member comprising a plate and a post;

said posts extending into bores in upper ends of said side frame members;

first and second jack located one each within side portions of said upper horizontal frame member and aligned with said bores in said horizontal frame member and adapted to move said posts outwardly from said horizontal frame member;

and at least one metal shim adapted to be positioned between one of said plates and said horizontal frame members whereby said chain is tensioned by activating one of said jacks causing one of said mounting plates to separate from said horizontal frame member and wherein said tension is maintained by at least one shim positioned between said plate and said frame member.