Abstract: A material conveyor system comprises a substantially upright mechanically or pneumatically operated conveyor and a device for loosening material and for feeding the same into the upright conveyor. The device comprises a substantially horizontally extending tubular jib adjustably connected to an upright support frame supporting the upright conveyor. The tubular jib rotatably supports on its outer periphery a material loosening and transporting device comprising a plurality of axially extending circumferentially displaced shovels which feed the loosened material through at least one elongated inlet opening into the interior of the tubular jib through which a conveyor extends which feeds the material in longitudinal direction of the jib into the upright conveyor.

Abstract: An improved front-end loader apparatus for collecting particulate material on a roadway surface comprising a frame assembly drivingly supported on the roadway, a windrow formation assembly supported at the forward end of the frame assembly for brushing particulate material into a windrow, and a feeder assembly disposed to engage the windrowed material up and onto a roadway scraper blade supported at the forward end of the frame assembly. An elevator assembly is disposed to receive the particulate material from the feeder assembly and elevate the material to a rear overhead discharge position. A residual material cleaning assembly is supported beneath the frame assembly and rearward to the feeder assembly for cleaning up residual material not collected by the feeder assembly, the residual material cleaning assembly directing the residual material to the elevator assembly so that the residual material is elevated to the rear overhead discharge position.

Abstract: An unloading device for equipment such as ships, bunkers, storage yards or the like comprises an elevator which has a substantially vertical supporting structure with a lower pickup end and an upper delivery end and a conveyor mounted on the structure with an elevator section for conveying material substantially vertical along the support structure. The lower end of the support structure engages into a rotatable bucket wheel which is mounted on a supporting structure. The bucket wheel is mounted in an inclined position relative to the supporting structure preferably at an angle of 45.degree. to the vertical axis of the supporting structure.

Abstract: The scooper-excavator is self-propelling and comprises a chassis having a roughly U-shape in its horizontal plane. A bucket-wheel is mounted to be rotatable about a horizontal axis which is fixed relative to the chassis and is engaged at least partly between the branches of the chassis. Discharge means are mounted on the chassis to discharge the product scooped by the bucket-wheel. The scooper-excavator is supported on the ground by three support means which define in the aforementioned horizontal plane three bearing points located at the corners of an isosceles triangle. Those of the support means corresponding to the corners at the base of the isosceles triangle are, in the course of the work of the scooper-excavator, permanently driving means and orientable about respective vertical axes. These driving and orientable means are located on each side of the chassis and respectively associated with the branches of the chassis.

Abstract: A bucket wheel type excavator is provided in which a vibrating movement is imparted to the individual cutting components of each bucket on the wheel. Moreover, each such imparting movement to the individual teeth or cutting components is from a single excitation device fixed in the axis of the wheel and driven from a power source coaxially through a hollow shaft for the wheel. The imparting movement is through flexible bars extending from the excitation device to a point adjacent the cutting components wherein the vibrating end of the respective flexible bar is spaced from and intermittently vibrates the cutting component which, in turn, is pivotally mounted.

Abstract: A cutting tool for an excavating machine is described which comprises a support arm having an inner end adapted to be movably mounted on the machine and an outer end, a shovel member having a substantially flat working face and carried by the support arm at its outer end, and a plurality of cutting teeth arranged to contact the material to be excavated in advance of the said shovel member and fixed rigidly thereto, the arrangement being such that the said working face is substantially perpendicular to its direction of motion as it contacts the material to be excavated. Assemblies of such cutting tools are also described, which are particularly smooth and efficient in operation.

Abstract: An asphalt paving planer is illustrated wherein a power operated conveyor is mounted ahead of a cutter drum for receiving asphalt cuttings and conveying them to a truck and the like driving in the forward direction in front of the paver, and wherein a cutter drum drive is provided which includes an internal combustion engine for driving a V-belt drive which, in turn, drives a gear reducer carried adjacent the cutter drum.

Abstract: An excavating loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels. The main conveyor transports the material rearwardly from the excavating wheel assembly and delivers the material to the opposite end of the vehicle. An auxiliary conveyor assembly is pivotally supported at the rear end of the vehicle to receive material from the main conveyor and to transport the material either laterally or rearwardly. The auxiliary conveyor assembly has inner and outer conveyors mounted with the discharge end of one conveyor adjacent the receiving end of the other conveyor. The conveyors are connected so that the outer conveyor can be folded under the inner conveyor.

Abstract: An excavating wheel is disclosed which includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A plurality of cylinders each connected to one of the movable walls are selectively actuated under fluid pressure to pivot each movable wall to the material dumping position. A plurality of springs each connected to one of the movable walls are provided to pivot each movable wall to the material receiving position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tunneling machine or other machine provided with tools for cutting materials from a wall located in front of the machine, said machine comprising a movable frame carrying a head rotatably driven about an axis, said head bearing at least one bucket for picking up said materials after cutting and for dumping the materials on or towards a conveyor, said bucket having an inlet opening for picking up the materials when the bucket passes through a low position during the rotation of the head, and said bucket having an outlet opening for dumping the materials, said outlet opening being offset to the rear of the head with respect to the said inlet opening.

Abstract: An improved reciprocatory self-loading dual-ended earth excavation vehicle pivotally connected to two or more unmanned self-leveling and self-maneuvering telescopic conveyor vehicles, the latter in turn are pivotally connected to a multi-function dual-ended distribution vehicle capable of conveying, spreading, wetting, impacting and grading the earth fill. The above-mentioned articulated vehicles provide the means to excavate, convey and discharge a virtually continuous flow of earth while traveling in a forward or rearward direction. The excavation and telescopic conveyor vehicles are readily adaptable to surface mining of various minerals including coal and oil shale by simply exchanging the abovementioned distribution vehicle for a pivotally connected boom conveyer vehicle which provides the means for discharging the ore at a mill site or for the loading of long haul ore carriers.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front. This wheel assembly includes plural excavating wheels each comprising a plurality of digging buckets having a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A spring is connected to each movable wall for normally positioning the wall in the material receiving position. A cam mounted on each movable wall is engaged by a mechanism fixedly supported at a point offset from the rotational axis of the excavating wheel to pivot each movable wall to the material dumping position against the action of the spring associated therewith.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises three excavating wheels having an overall width in excess of that of the remainder of the system. Each excavating wheel includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. The excavating wheel assembly is supported for vertical movement to vary the grade angle of the excavating made by the system, and a moldboard is linked to the excavating wheel assembly for movement therewith. Hydraulic cylinders may be utilized to vary the wheel assembly support provided by the moldboard in accordance with the material being excavated. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly, at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises individual excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets. Each bucket comprises a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A plurality of push rods are each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets. A rigid collar is interconnected to the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls which collar is rotatably supported at a point offset from the rotational axis of the excavating wheel so that the push rods and the collar cooperate to positively pivot the movable walls of the bucket between material receiving and material dumping positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises individual excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets. Each bucket comprises a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A predetermined cam track is disposed around the axis of rotation of the buckets and is engaged by a plurality of cam followers each connected to one of the movable walls to thereby positively pivot the movable wall of each digging bucket between the material receiving and the material dumping positions.

Abstract: An improved sidebank excavator for removing earth from the side of a hill or other embankment, the excavator having a fixed, bidirectional horizontal earth removal assembly; a rotating, bidirectional vertical earth removal assembly; a conveyor assembly for conveying particulate material deposited on a receiving portion thereof to a discharge portion thereof remote from the receiving portion; and a plurality of independently vertically adjustable track drive assemblies.

Abstract: A bidirectional excavator capable of excavating a predetermined swath of earth while moving in a forward or rearward longitudinal direction. The excavator includes a rotatable excavator wheel that operates to disengage and move loosened earth to a centrally located transverse conveyor belt. The belt carries the loosened material to one side of the excavator. Retractable crumbing blades are located on both forward and rearward sides of the excavator wheel. Each is selectively operable to be lowered to an operative position adjacent to the wheel with regard to the selected direction of movement for the machine. The lowered crumbing blade serves to gather and maintain material sloughed from the wheel against the wheel so it may be eventually carried to the discharge conveyor. When it is desired to move the excavator in an opposite direction, the operative crumbing blade is retracted and the previously inoperative plate is extended to its operative position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mechanical digging of graves has a frame which can be adjusted in width to enable it to pass between headstones in a cemetry. A carrier is vertically adjustable in the frame, and a digging assembly is traversable longitudinally within the frame. A bucket conveyor and motorized digging attachment are carried on a rigid structure which is vertically adjustable with respect to a sub-frame of the carrier.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises three excavating wheels having an overall width in excess of that of the remainder of the system. Each excavating wheel includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. The excavating wheel assembly is supported for vertical movement to vary the grade angle of the excavation made by the system, and a moldboard is linked to the excavating wheel assembly for movement therewith. Hydraulic cylinders may be utilized to vary the wheel assembly support provided by the moldboard in accordance with the material being excavated. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels. The main conveyor transports the material rearwardly from the excavating wheel assembly and delivers the material to the opposite end of the vehicle. An auxiliary conveyor assembly is detachably supported at the opposite end of the vehicle to receive material from the main conveyor and to transport the material either laterally or rearwardly. The rear portion of the main conveyor is adapted to fold under the auxiliary conveyor assembly to reduce the overall height of the excavating and loading system during travel. The auxiliary conveyor assembly has a pair of conveyors mounted with the discharge end of one conveyor adjacent the receiving end of the other conveyor.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system includes an excavating and wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying the material from the excavating wheel assembly upward and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes a pair of excavating wheels with a total width wider than the overall width of the following portions of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus extends between the excavating wheels and rotatably supports the same from the front of the vehicle. A power plant is provided and a drive shaft extends down along the supporting and housing means between the two excavating wheels. Gearing is provided in the interior of the wheels and is connected to the drive shaft for powering the excavating wheels. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering excavation height of the excavation wheel assembly to thereby vary the grade of the excavation.

Abstract: A device for the removal of bulk materials from bulk material storage sites or dumps. A breakup unit is attached to a pick up arrangement and is adaptable to the inclination of the bulk material storage dump. The breakup unit has a rotatable roller provided with buckets which are inclined with respect to the axis of the roller and function as conveying elements. These conveying elements are arranged in a helical manner about the roller, and are connected to the roller by means of pins. Each conveying element has two legs arranged symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation of the roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for handling bulk products, particularly in granular and pulverulent form, such as ores, coal or the like; the invention relates more especially to pick-up devices constituted by a plurality of buckets mounted on a mobile support such as a bucket wheel, bucket chain or the like.

Abstract: A new mechanical shovel adapted for mounting on a vehicle and for shovelling continuously onto a conveyor consists of a plurality of buckets pivotally mounted equidistantly around an axis to two spaced coaxial cam disc members rotatable by a drive about an axis. These two rotatable members are mounted between and each closely adjacent to another respective coaxial cam disc member also coaxial with the axis. The first-mentioned rotatable cam members have a plurality of cam tracks each for a respective bucket, while the second-mentioned cam members each have a single endless bucket-attitude determining cam track. Each bucket has cam followers each of which cooperates with two cam tracks, one on each member, so that the buckets pivot to the required attitude for shovelling and subsequent discharging as they are rotated about the axis. The inclination of the shovelling part of the bucket path can be changed by rotating the second-mentioned cam members about the axis.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system includes an excavating wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying the material from the excavating wheel assembly upwardly and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes at least one excavating wheel which is positioned on the front of the vehicle with respect to the direction of travel to form an excavation. The wheel has side mounted cutting teeth which pivot outwardly to form an excavation wider than the following portion of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus rotatably supports the excavating wheel means from the vehicle and engages the wheel means on the ends thereof. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering the excavation wheel assembly to raise and lower the excavation height and thereby vary the grade of the excavation. The excavation wheel is provided with means for positively moving the walls of a plurality of buckets between material receiving and material discharging positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system includes an excavating wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying material from the excavating wheel assembly upwardly and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes at least one excavating wheel which is wider than the overall width of the following portion of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus rotatably supports the excavating wheel and includes portions which engage the ends of the excavating wheel. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering the supporting and housing apparatus to raise and lower the excavating height of the excavating wheel assembly and thereby vary the grade of the excavation. The excavation wheel is provided with means for positively moving the walls of a plurality of buckets between digging and dumping positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system includes an excavating and wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying the material from the excavating wheel assembly upward and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes a pair of excavating wheels with a total width wider than the overall width of the following portions of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus extends between the excavating wheels and rotatably supports the same from the front of the vehicle. A power plant is provided and a drive shaft extends down along the supporting and housing means between the two excavating wheels. Gearing is provided in the interior of the wheels and is connected to the drive shaft for powering the excavating wheels. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering excavation height of the excavation wheel assembly to thereby vary the grade of the excavation.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system including an excavating wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying material from the excavating wheel assembly to the rear of the vehicle. The excavating wheel assembly has an excavating wheel which is narrower than the overall width of the following portion of the system. A yoke engages the ends of the excavating wheel and supports the wheel in a horizontal position. The yoke is pivotally attached to the vehicle and hydraulic cylinders are provided to oscillate the excavating wheel assembly from side-to-side transverse to the direction of movement of the vehicle to form a trench wider than the excavating wheel assembly itself. Means are provided on the vehicle for raising and lowering the excavating height and can be provided to adjust the roll attitude of the excavation wheel assembly. The excavation wheel is provided with means for positively moving walls of a plurality of buckets between digging and dumping positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system including an excavating wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying material from the excavating wheel assembly upwardly and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes a plurality of excavating wheels having an overall width in excess of that of the following portion of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus rotatably supports the excavating wheel assembly and includes portions which extend between adjacent excavating wheels. Electric motors are connected to drive shafts which extend to the excavating wheel assembly through the portions of the supporting and housing apparatus that extend between adjacent excavating wheels. A right angle gearbox is connected to each drive shaft and powers the excavating wheel through a planetary speed reducer. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering the excavating height of the excavating wheel assembly to thereby vary the grade of the excavation.

Abstract: A reloading device, e.g. a combined reloading -- loading device, which on one hand so rests on a transfer device movable above a storage place conveyor that the transfer device can carry out pivotal movements about a vertical axis and an axis transverse to the belt bridge axis while being prevented from carrying out longitudinal movements, and on the other hand rests on a carriage by the aid of rocker means which is equipped with rollers as support for supporting rails mounted on the belt bridge and extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the belt bridge. The supporting rails are mounted on the belt bridge for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the belt bridge and are arrestable relative to the belt bridge at such inclinations that the reaction force component acting approximately in the longitudinal direction of the belt bridge and originating in the pick-up means is at least partially transformed onto the carriage.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus and a method for removing material from beneath railroad track. The apparatus comprises a rotary trench digging means and horizontal chain means to transport the material from beneath the railroad track to the trench digging means at an underground location. In operation the trench digging means digs a trench alongside of the track while at the same time transporting the material delivered by the horizontal chain means to a suitable location above the ground. Preferably the rotary trench digging means comprises a large hollow wheel and one end of the chain means is disposed inside of and near the bottom of the wheel during normal operation of the chain means. Means are provided to pivot the chain means about a vertical axis whereby the chain means can be pivoted from a first position wherein the chain means extends parallel to the track to a second position wherein the chain means extends perpendicular to the track.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled and driven dredge, in which the pumps for delivering the driving fluid for the bucket wheel drive are equipped with output controls for controlling the fluid delivery in conformity with the encountered digging resistance and that a control conduit branched off from a pressure conduit leading to a hydraulic motor for driving the bucket wheel is connected to an output limiting valve located in a control circuit which includes an adjusting device connected through conduits to a manually operable control for varying the delivery and the delivery direction of the pump for actuating the hydraulic motor for pivoting the upper structure of the dredge. The fluid delivery of the pumps to the hydraulic motor employed for driving the track laying mechanism being conveyed to the hydraulic motor for driving the bucket wheel when the track laying mechanism is not to be operated.