GB2101079A - Shovel loaders - Google Patents

Abstract

A shovel loader comprising a bucket 6, transfer means 8 for moving a load within the bucket to a discharge side thereof, and discharge means 7 located at the discharge side of the bucket for positively discharging the load from the bucket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shovel loader This invention relates to shovel ioaders of the kind used with lifting devices and in particular relates to shovel loaders for use with fork lift trucks.

It is known to use a lifting device in conjunction with a bucket in order to raise materials and deposit them in a hopper or other receptacle. This technique is commonly used with materials of a granular nature.

Where the lifting devide is a fork lift truck a bucket can be easily attached and the forks may or may not be removed from the truck.

In this instance the modified fork lift truck would be driven towards a mass of the material, a quantity of which would be scooped up by the bucket. The bucket would then be raised by the fork lift truck until it is over and above the hopper. At this point the bucket may be tipped up, thus discharging its load into the hopper.

In order to ensure deposition of the load into the hopper it is essential to raise the bucket to a height over the lip defining the rim of the hopper. This requirement remains essential even if the bucket is lifted by devices other than a fork lift truck. Such a demand places rigid conditions upon the choice of both the hopper and the lifting device. In meeting these conditions either the hopper or the lifting device may have to be of dimensions which are different to those that might otherwise be desired.

Furthermore there are many occasions where it is desirable to deliver the material evenly without the presence of lumps. The method described above is not able to achieve this since each load would be delivered in a single solid lump.

According to the invention there is provided a shovel loader comprising a bucket, transfer means for moving a load within the bucket to a discharge side thereof, and discharge means located at the discharge side of the bucket for positively discharging the load from the bucket.

Advantageously the transfer means comprises an auger located within the bucket.

Preferably the longitudinal axis of the auger extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of discharge of the load from the discharge means. Desirably the auger is connected to a motor by means of which the auger is rotated.

In one embodiment the discharge means comprises a rotatable wheel having at least one radially extending paddle.

In an alternative embodiment the discharge means comprises a conveyor belt. It is desirable that the belt has a plurality of flanges orientated substantially at right angles to the belt in order to facilitate of the discharging operation.

In both embodiments the discharge means may be driven by the same motor used to drive the auger. If desired the discharge means may be driven by a separate motor.

The motor may be any suitable known motor, for example, an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor.

The shovel loader of the present invention has many advantages over the prior art. In particular the invention permits a much greater flexibility in the choice of the load lifting device and the load receptacle. In addition the shovel loader is adaptable enough to be compatible with a wide range of different lifing devices. Moreover the shovel loader of the present invention is capable of delivering material which is of substantially even consistency.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a fork lift truck having a shovel loader according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a part sectional view of one embodiment of a shovel loader according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a park broken away perspective view of the shovel loader shown in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a shovel loader according to the present invention; and Figure 5 is a part broken away perspective view of the shovel loader shown in Fig. 4.

Preferring to Fig. 1 a fork lift truck 1, is adapted to carry a shovel loader 2. The truck 1 has a body 1 a which contains the drive motor (not shown) for the truck. The truck 1 is also provided with steerable wheels 3 and load supporting wheels 3a. The truck 1 includes a cab 4 and upright masts 5 to which the shovel loader 2 is shown attached. The shovel loader 2 can move up and down masts 5.

In Fig. 1 the shovel loader is shown discharging, from a bucket or shovel 6, a load into the lip of the receptacle 11. In order to discharge such a load using conventional apparatus it would be necessary for the bucket to be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the masts 5, and in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 this would not be possible as the lower edge of the bucket would contact the lip of the receptacle 11. However, with the apparatus according to the present invention the load may be discharged from the shovel loader 2 into the receptacle 11.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the shovel loader 2 is shown in more detail.

The bucket 6 is provided with a screw auger 8 which may be rotated by an electric motor 9 which is separately controlled from the cab 4 of the truck 1. Non-electric motors, for example hydraulic or pneumatic motors, may also be employed. The load (not shown) is moved by the auger 8 to discharge side 6a of the bucket 6 where it is contacted by paddles 18 which are connected to a wheel 18a. The paddles 1 8 are rotated by a motor 10 within a housing 7. As the paddles 18 rotate, the load, which is fed to the paddles by the auger 8, is propelled forwardly out of the bucket 6, as indicated by the arrow 'A' in Fig. 3. This operation does not necessitate the tipping of the bucket.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the bucket 1 is still provided with auger 8, but in place of the paddle 18, at the discharge side 6a, there is a conveyor belt 1 3 running around supporting pulleys 14 and 1 5. Normally pulley 1 5 is driven by a motor 16. The belt has upstanding flanges 1 3a thereon so that as material is deposited onto the floor 1 2 of the housing 1 7 the flanges 1 3a of the belt 1 3 will move the material along the floor 1 2 and expel if from the end of the housing 1 7 as indicated by the arrow 'B' in Fig. 5. As with the previous embodiment there is no need to tip the bucket 6.

Claims (11)

1. A shovel loader comprising a bucket, transfer means for moving a load within the bucket to discharge side thereof, and discharge means located at the discharge side of the bucket for positively discharging the load from the bucket.

2. A shovel loader according to Claim 1 in which the transfer means comprises an auger located within the bucket.

3. A shovel loader according to Claim 2 in which the longitudinal axis of the auger extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of discharge of the load from the discharge means.

4. A shovel loader according to any of the preceding claims in which the transfer means is driven by a motor.

5. A shovel loader according to any of the preceding claims in which the discharge means comprises a rotatable wheel having at least one radially extending paddle.

6. A shovel loader according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the discharge means comprises a conveyor belt.

7. A shovel loader according to Claim 6 in which the conveyor belt has a plurality of flanges orientated substantially at right angles to the belt.

8. A shovel loader according to any of the preceding claims in which the discharge means is driven by a motor.

9. A shovel loader according to any of claims 4 to 8 in which the discharge means and the transfer means are driven by the same motor.

1 0. A shovel loader according to any of Claims 4 to 8 in which the discharge means and the transfer means are driven by separate motors.

11. A shovel loader according to any of Claims 4 to 10 in which the or each motor is an electric motor.

1 2. A shovel loader substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.