Transporting and dumping device

Sept. 6, 1966

T. E. ORD

3,270,901

TRANSPORTING AND DUMPING DEVICE

Filed Feb. 17, 1964

Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR.

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THOMAS E. ORD

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ATTORNEYS

Sept 6, 1966 τ. e. ord 3,270,901

TRANSPORTING AND DUMPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEYS

Sept. 6, 1966

T. E. ORD

3,270,901

TRANSPORTING AND DUMPING DEVICE

Filed Feb. 17, 1964

Sheets-Sheet 3

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ATTORNEYS

3,270,901

Patented Sept. 6, 1966

United States Patent Office

2 thereof in the slots. The cross bar is provided with slots to receive the forks -of the fork lift truck for lifting and transporting the device. The barrel is dumped by a lever mechanism anchored on the cross-bar and actuated by 5 -the fork lift to provide movement to the movable rack and pinion to invert the barrel 180°. Reverse movement of the rack serves to bring the barrel back to upright position.

In an alternative modification of the invention a hori10 zontally oriented lifting frame with -two support members is -used in which the rack and pinion are mounted on a support member transverse to it and the lever mechanism for dumping the barrel is preferably supported on top o-f one of the support members substantially parallel thereto.

In this modification the forks of the fork lift truck are positioned underneath the support members parallel thereto and means wider than the frame are provided for receiving fork members.

The invention will now be described in conjunction 20 with the accompanying drawings in-which:

-FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the barrel dumping device in position for lifting the barrel and attached to a fork lift, the -fork -lift being shown partially;

FIG. 2 is -a front view of the device o-f the invention ²⁵ shown in position for lifting a barrel;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on lines 3—3 of -FIG. 2 looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention shown with the fork lift in position to connect ³⁰ with the dumping device, the fork lift being shown partially; ,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the fork lift -connected to the dumping device for transporting it;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the ³⁵ barrel in inverted position and showing an intermediate position of the barrel by dotted lines;

FIG. 7 is -a partial sectional view taken on line 7—7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken on line 8—8 ⁴⁰ of FIG. 3; .

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative form ot sleeve bearing;

FIG. 10 is a partial fragmentary side elevational view of a support member in -the area of the rack and pinion 45 showing a modified construction;

FIG. 11 is a view taken ninety degrees to the view of

FIG· 1°; ,_e .

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modification ot the invention in which the lifting frame is horizontally 50 oriented, and ; FIG. 13 is a view taken on line 13—13 of FIG. 12 look ing in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lifting frame of the device I of this modification comprises channel-shaped upright . ⁵⁵ support members 10 and 12 supported on feet 14 and 16 and joined together at their -top by cross bar 18 provided with slots 19 for receiving the arms or fork mem¹ bers 20 and 21 of the fork -lift truck shown partially in ^: phantom and represented by the numeral 22.

The support members 10 -and 12 as well as the feet ³ 14 and 16 and the cross bar 18 may be made of light metal or equivalent material. The support members are s preferably of channel shaped cross section. Other means I than slots may be provided for attaching the lifting frame g 65 to -the forks of a fork lift truck. Set screws 24 or other

3,270,9011

TRANSPORTING AND DUMPING DEVICE

Thomas E. Ord, Aurora, Colo. (4210 Cook St.,*

Denver, Colo.)

Filed Feb. 17,1964, Ser. No. 345,460

Claims. (Cl. 214—314)'·

I

This invention relates -to apparatus for transporting and 1 dumping containers; more particularly, it relates to a device for use in conjunction with -fork lift trucks for trans- 10 ' porting and dumping containers. .

As is well known, it is a widespread practice to cut ;

the heads out of oil drums and use them as garbage con- ( tainers. This is particularly true in industrial establishments. Other type drums or cans are also used as -garbage 15 receptacles. The practice is to dump the drums or other containers into large trash receptacles and reuse the drums indefinitely. In view -of the large number of drums in use in this manner, the manner in which these heavily loaded containers are transported and. dumped creates, a serious problem as respects safety, time and labor involved.

Mechanized devices -for transporting the drums to a dumping area and dumping them are available. However, the presently available devices are extremely complicated ⁰and expensive. Their -complication and consequent tendency to break down creates a repair problem. . So far as is known, there are no effective devices for use in combination with fork lift trucks for transporting and dumping garbage cans. While oil drums are used as -the garbage can to -illustrate the operation of the device of this invention, -the transporting and dumping device is -not limited to use with oil drums as it can be -used -with other type refuse or garbage receptacles. ₃₅

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device designed for quick attachment to and for use with fork lift -trucks for transporting and dumping receptacles.

It is another object of this invention to. provide a de- ₄θ vice of the type stated which is compact in construction and which is adaptable for use with various types of containers. . .

The transporting and dumping device of the invention comprises in one modification a lifting frame consisting of two uprights or support members -with a -cross, bar at the 4a top and a beam at the bottom of each upright which serves as a foot upon which the frame structure rests. The uprights are preferably of channel construction and one of them is -provided with a movable rack engaged by a pinion. The shaft of the pinion -is supported in a sleevebearing element attached to a support member and havmg an internal bearing diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the pinion shaft. A second sleeve bearing with -a cooperating shaft is -mounted on the internal __ face of the other support -member. The entrance to the sleeve-bearing members is provided with angularly opposed -guide -members for barrel lugs. The shafts riding in the sleeve-bearing -members are provided -with a groove into which diametrically opposed lug members on the bar- 60 rel fit for transporting the barrel. The guide members serve to guide the lugs into the slots and both guide members may be provided with extensions serving as guides for axially rotating -a barrel so that its lugs are properly oriented vertically -to permit entry and subsequent seating 6a

3,270,901 suitable means may be used for securing the arms 20 and 21 of the fork lift in the slots 19. If channel shaped support members are used the channel may be facing inwardly or outwardly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the barrel 26 is provided with lifting lugs 27 and 28 attached to the barrel in diametrically opposed positions by any suitable means. One expedient for attaching the lugs is to use a circular removable clamp 29 bearing the lugs. As part of the mechanism for lifting and supporting the barrel, sleeve bearings 30 and 31, best shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, are secured as by welding to each of the support members 10 and 12, respectively, at a distance above the feet 14 and 16 so that when the lifting frame is placed over a barrel, the entrance of the sleeve bearings will be below the lifting lugs 27 and 28. The sleeve bearings may be supported proximate to the support members and the term “adjacent to” includes this arrangement as well as that described above.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sleeve bearings are provided with a bore 32, the surface of which provides a bearing surface, and an inlet 34 with outwardly sloping guide surfaces 36 and 38 leading into the inlet. The sleeve bearings may be made of solid material as shown or may be of strip material bent into the required shape.

An alternative form of sleeve bearing 31' is shown in FIG. 9, preferably made from a single piece of strip material, in which guides or guide surfaces 36' and 38' are in the form of wings made integral with the bearing section, and wing 38' is provided with an extension 39 which serves as a guide for radially turning a barrel to properly orient the barrel and its lugs for lifting. The extension may be at the end of either wing depending, of course, on the orientation of the bearing when mounted.

The bearing sections of sleeve bearings 30 and 31 receive shafts 40 and 42 (FIG. 2), respectively, which rotate therein. Shaft 40 is provided with circular head 44 rotatably mounted in the channel of support member 10. Shaft 42 is provided with pinion 46 for a purpose which will be described later. Each of the shafts 40 and 42 are provided with a slot extending from its periphery inwardly as shown at 48 for shaft 42 in FIG. 8. The. slots are designed to receive lifting lugs 27 and 28.

Pinion 46 meshes with vertically movable rack 50. Rack 50 is mounted between the base of sleeve bearing 31 and the interior surface of channel 12. A rod 52 is attached at one end to rack 50 as shown in FIG. 7 and at the other end to lever 56 as shown in FIG. 5. . The rod 52 extends through cross bar 18. Lever 56 is attached by means of a hinge 58 to anchor bar 60 which is attached to cross 'bar 18. A spring member 62 surrounds the end of rod 52 between the top of cross bar 18 and the bottom of lever 56. It will be seen by this construction that vertical movement of lever 56 serves to move rack 50 vertically by means of rod 52, this movement in turn rotating pinion 46 and, accordingly, barrel 26 through lugs 27 and 28 resting in slots in shafts 40 and 42, respectively, in corresponding sleeve bearings 30 and 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, a linking rod 64 is connected at its upper end to the end of lever 56 with its bottom end passing through a hole in bracket 66 mounted on fork lift truck 22. A chain or other type connecting means may be used instead of rod 64. The lower end of linking rod 64 is threaded and carries two inwardly threaded adjustable collars 68 and 70, one above and one below the bracket member.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 and 11 showing a modification in which the channels of the support members are turned outwardly. In this modification the rack 50’ and pinion 46' are seated inside the channel while the sleeve bearing 31' is, of course, mounted on the inner surface of the support member 12'. A roller 51 is mounted on the support member by means of spindle 53 and is in contact with rack 50' to align it and permit its smooth movement. As shown in FIG. 11, the pinion 46' is mounted by means of pinion shaft 57, flange bearing 59 and retaining nut 61.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 12 and 13 for a de5 scription of the modification in which the lifting frame is horizontally oriented. In this modification the rack 50 and pinion 46 are mounted transversely of support members 80 and 82 which are preferably turned outwardly at their ends to serve as guides for barrel entry IQ and to provide a pivot point 89 located so that lever 56 will be vertically aligned above rack 50.

A preferred, although not required, structure for mounting the rack and pinion is shown in FIG. 13 in which two plates 84 and 86 attached to support member 15 82 by a bolt or other means support the pinion 46 between them in contact with rack 50. The sleeve bearing 31 enclosing shaft 42 connected to pinion 46 is. supported in position by welding to the inner face of plate 84 or otherwise. Slots 88 and 90 are provided on the 2o bottoms of support members 80 and 82, respectively, for receiving forks of a fork lift truck. The slots extend laterally beyond the support member 80 and 82 for providing accommodation of forks of varying distances apart. These slots may be located otherwise and other means 25 may be provided for receiving the forks.

The dumping mechanism is preferably mounted above support member 82 and comprises lever 56 pivotally attached at point 89 on member 82 and attached to rack 50 so that movement of lever 56 vertically will cor30 respondingly move rack 50. Spring 62 can be provided between lever 56 and top plate 90 to insure its return movement.

The operation of the modification of the barrel transporting and dumping device of the invention is shown in 35 FIGS. 1-8 as follows. The fork lift truck is first moved into position with arms 20 and 21 threaded through slots 19 as shown in FIG. 1. The device is then lifted by lifting the fork members and transported to the barrel to be dumped where it is positioned as shown in FIG. 2 with 40 the sleeve bearing 30 and 31 below the lifting lugs 27 and 28 in such a position that when the forks 20 and 21 are raised carrying the device upwardly with them, the lifting lugs 27 and 28 will be fitted into slots in shafts 40 and 42. The barrel can now be transported and will be held in upright position by means of pinion 46 and rack 50, as rack 50 is held in a stationary position.

Prior to or at the time of dumping, connecting rod 60 is threaded into bracket 66 as shown in FIG. 4, for example, and the apparatus is in condition for dumping the barrel.

^υ In accordance with the construction described, the barrel is dumped as shown in FIG. 6 by forks 20 and 21 which in turn lift linking rod 64 until collar 70 abuts the bottom of bracket 66. Further movement of the forks results in rack 50 being forced in a downward direction which in turn rotates pinion 46 in a counterclockwise direction to dump barrel 26. When barrel 26 has been tilted from an upright position, shafts 40 and 42 will be rotated so that the slots therein will be closed by the internal surfaces of sleeve bearings 30 and 31, respectively, so that the lifting lugs cannot fall out of the slots. After the barrel has been dumped, it is returned to upright position by lowering the fork lift and by means of spring 62 which automatically forces lever 56 up to the original position to return the barrel to upright position as shown in FIG. 6. The empty drum is then returned to its original location and the lifting frame lowered to disengage the sleeve bearings 30 and 31 from shafts 27 and 28, respectively, and the fork lift truck backed away to remove the lifting frame from the barrel for the next operation.

The construction of the lever 56, hinge 58, anchor bar 60, spring 62 and connecting rod 64 with its threaded collars 68 and 70, all operating in conjunction with the arms of the fork lift truck for rotating the barrel, is a preferred means for rotating the barrel. Other equivalent

3,270,901 ⁶ to the bearing area of said open sleeve bearing and ope of said surfaces of each of said bearings is provided with a guide extension at its end as a guide means to axially orient said barrel lugs for entry into said slots.

11. Apparatus for use with a fork lift truck for dumping containers comprising: a lifting frame including two spaced apart vertical support members connected at their top ends by a cross bar provided with means for receiving the arms of a fork lift; a rack mounted on the internal surface of at least one of said support members; an open sleeve bearing having outwardly extending surfaces forming a guide into its bearing section mounted on the inner surface of each of said support members; a rotatable slotted shaft in each of said sleeve bearings; a pinion carried by one of said shafts meshing in said racks; a lever hingedly attached to said cross bar; connecting means between said rack and said lever; and means for adjustably anchoring one end of said lever to said fork lift truck; whereby vertical movement of said lever by movement of said forks effects movement of said rack and pinion.

12. Apparatus of claim 11 in which said lever is biased into its upward position.

13. In a transporting and dumping apparatus including a lifting frame, a supporting and dumping mechanism comprising at least one open sleeve bearing having a bearing section and an entrance to the bearing section; outwardly and upwardly extending guide members on each side of said entrance; a guide extension on the end of other guide member to provide a contact surface for a container lug; and a rotatable shaft having a slot therein in the bearing section of said sleeve bearing.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 including a pinion ⁵ means can obviously be used and this structure is merely an illustration of an operable structure for the purpose. The operation of the modification shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is, of course, analogous to that described above.

It is readily seen from the above description that a barrel transporting and dumping apparatus has been provided which is simple in construction and operation, is safe for dumping heavily loaded containers, and which can be effectively used by one operator with a fork lift truck.

While the invention has been illustrated by its application with two support members and two sleeve bearings, it is not limited to this structure as a single sleeve bearing and/or a single support member may be. used. For example, the sleeve bearings can be substantially lengthened so that one of them will support a heavy barrel and used on a single support member.

It is to be understood from the foregoing that various changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction and arrangement of parts in the preferred and alternate forms of invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.