US3047122A - Earth working machines - Google Patents

Description

y 1952 K. ROSETZ 3,047,122

EARTH WORKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 31, 1962 K. ROSETZ 3,047,122

' EARTH WORKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVEN 70R July 31, 1962 K. ROSETZ EARTH WORKING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1960 INVENTOR United Patent ihse 3,047,122 EARTH WGRKENG MACIWES Kurt Rosetz, Ariadnestrasse 15, Berlin- Frohnau, Germany Filed Feb. 16, 19%, Ser. No. 9,112

12 Claims. {CL 198-7) 7 The present invention concerns earth working machines for tillage and soil cultivation, for shifting earth and loading operations.

The invention particularly concerns such a machine having its own travelling gear, wherein the working member consists of a wheel rim swingably supported and adapted to rotate horizontally, the wheel being inclined obliquely towards the front and freely engaging the working medium and fitted with interchangeable cutting or digging tools.

Such machines are known in the art. Thus, there are machines having rotating, solid toothed disc cutters and conveyors and revolving closely above these revolving drum conveyors or the like, which on their full working surface are provided with cutting teeth or fiutings, with ledges or chisels, or similar cutting tools. Such machines, however, for satisfactory shifting and loading operations, have to be fitted with additional rigid scraping members, revolving scraping belts or drums, rotating shovels, driving chains or the like. These additional scraping members form a kinematic, dynamic and economically increased load and are often the cause of operational breakdowns.

Loading machines are known moreover which have their own travelling gear, wherein a single horizontally rotating spoked wheel is provided in an inclined position on a pivotally mounted frame to act as a working member, below the wheel rim of which is arranged an annular disc fixed by means of studs, and between the rim and disc are fixed a number of adjustable and interchangeable blades or similar digging tools, in such a manner that, when op erating the front working region, the blades or the like and the annular disc freely engage the working medium in a forwardly inclined position and in the rear region of the wheel rim periphery the tools and the annular disc rotate freely in order in this way to allow the working medium to slide and drop on to a conveyor belt situated therebelow.

Machines constructed in such a manner however exhibit great technical drawbacks. Thus, for example, during operation the material loaded by means of the cutting and diggingtools is received only by the annular disc rotatably engaged at the wheel rim periphery by means of studs. The working capacity is thus limited merely to this annular disc. A further great drawback in such machines resides in the fact that the working material has to be carried in a non-positive manner by the rotating annular disc by means of its gravity and its adhesion up to the rear region of the wheel rim periphery, where exclusively by gravity action it slides and drops off the rotating annular disc. The conditions for a satisfactory slipping caused by the weight of the working material, however, in case of a variety of working materials, depends upon so many mechanical and weather conditioned factors, that a satisfactory operation, particularly in the case of viscous and caked working material, is diflicult since in these cases the angle of operation of the rotating annular disc and of the tools for the purpose of permitting the material to slide down would have to be so steep that the scooping-up conditions and the scooping-up performances are rendered doubtful. -A further drawback of such machines .is caused constructionally by the fact that the size of par- Patented July 31, 1952 excavation work particularly with caking working material, there is the risk of clogging between wheel rim and annular disc and between the blades and studs. By means of such machines operating non-positively it is not possible or only to a limited extent possible to carry out agricultural work, ploughing, uprooting, digging and excavat ing work, particularly since the cutting and digging tools are mounted in spaced relationship to one another only be tween the rotating annular disc and the wheel rim, thus causing them to operate intermittently and only from ground level and towards the front.

All these drawbacks are removed by the machine in accordance with the invention which operates positively by the fact that as the cutting member there is provided a disc cutter pivotally mounted and rotating horizontallyin a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, or two' oppositely acting horizontally rotating disc cutters which are fitted on their fiat wheel rims and on their spoke arms with interchangeable cutting or excavating tools. Preferably the tools are constituted by teeth on the wheel rims or on the wheel rim periphery, and by cutting edges, chisels or the like on the spoke arms.

from the wheel rim periphery to approximately the centre of the disc cutter over the width of the disc cutter or cutters, a rigid receiving plate is provided, from which, during operation, the accrueing material brought in by the tools and collected by the rigid receiving plate is continuously engaged in the direction of rotation and helically raised and in a positive manner pushed by the spoke arms and scraped positively off the rigid receiving plate, while in the rear region of the disc cutters the toothed rims and spoke arms revolve freely.

The machine in accordance with the invention thus has the advantage that when constructed with a single pivotal disc cutter, it can be operated in a clockwise and an anti-clockwise direction, and that when constructed to have two pivotal disc cutters, they operate in opposite directions.

A further advantage arises from the fact that not only the fiat rims of the cutters with their toothed rims acting as cutting tool engage the material from the ground or proximity of the ground surface onwards, but also that the tools on the spoke arms, in the case of cultivated soil or the like, participate at the cutting face and when the disc cutters are driven below the latter (FIG. 1 shown in dotted lines) participate also at the back in bringing however is the fact that the material accrueing during operation on the rigid receiving plate is continuously engaged in the direction of rotation in a positive manner by pushing, and is carried up therewith and in the rear region directly past the centre of the dis cutter, i.e. on 1 passing the rigid receiving plate, is scraped ofi in a posi- I tive manner and caused to drop down. Operation in this manner is independent of any mechanical or climatic con- 3 ditions and the kind of material involved, thus permitting even viscous and caked material to be conveyed without difliculty.

The disc cutter may be retained at an advantageous angel of inclination due to the fact that the spoke arms convey the material carried by the rigid receiving plate away positively in the direction of rotation, pushing it helically in constant flow.

Arranged closely below the disc cutters in the front working region, and extending sesame Bafileplates advantageously form the limitation of the working face towards the sides.

A technical and ecconomical advantage moreover arises from'the .flat constructioin of the wheel rims and the continuouslytoothedrims connected therewith in-that the inclined disc, annular disc or the like with the whole inclined surface part put in operation, he. with a wide cutting-edge,- engagesthe medium'being worked only with the thicknessof the continuous teeth of the wheel rims. This -measure resultsin the feed pressure, in the case of the relatively thin cuttingedge of the toothed rims, being decidedly lower than that of known machines. Moreover, since the material being worked is undercut by 'means of :theicontinuous teeth'of the rims, the ma terial is more readily and'more'intensively detached from its bond or is being more favourable for the rim to be inserted beneath the won minerals and for it to be be charged -in.a better fashion-on to the rigid receiving plate.

In accordance with'features of the invention a further advantage'is gained by the fact that beneath the-disc cutter 'or cutters and the rigid'receiving plate a conveying -menrber-is arranged, for example, 'a steel'plate, a rubber,

scraper belt orthe like to convey the scraped oif medium.

A further advantage of'the'machine constructed in accordance with the invention is that the disc cutter or cutters and'the receiving plate are adapted to be pivoted in height in a vertical direction about a pivot in the chassis frame.

It is also an advantageous feature that the chassis frame with'its disc cutters and the rigid receiving plate is adapted to be adjusted in height in a vertical direction using its travelling wheel acting as pivot.

I ample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

A further advantage, preferably when carrymg out excavation and soil cultivation is obtained by the fact that known disc 'harrow wheels may be mounted if necessary on the axle -of the travelling" wheels for subsequent soil cultivation or the travelling wheels being constituted by disc harrow wheels.

A further progressive and advantageous feature of the machine in accordance with the invention is that'during operation the chassis frame with the assistance of known jogging members, such as, for example, springs, spring bolts, unbalances, eccentrics or the like, is set' into a jogging'motion by the drive.

A further advantage in the machine according to the invention is that the drive of the disc cutters is efiected by means of separate internal combustion engines or electric motors by- Way of a self-drive as also by means or i an articulated shaft in known manner by separate drive from'the power take-oflf shaft of a tractor or the like connected-in tandem or at the side. 7

The machine in accordance with the invention includes a further advantageous feature preferably when shifting earth or carrying out excavation and loading work in that the chassis frame with the swingable disc cutters and the rigid receiving plate are mounted on a jib also supporting the conveying 'member over its whole length, which jib is adapted to-be swung vertically adjustable in height inknown manner about a pivot of a separate travelling gear of a known kind having low-pressure tyres ora caterpillar track, travelling on rails or thelike.

. advantageinthe last embodiment is that in known manner behind the conveying member a loading .belt adapted to. beswung in all directions is arranged.

The machine v in accordance with the invention due to itsdesign henceensures-great progressive and economical advantages in comparison to hitherto known machines by way oftechnically simple means and machine elements'by the. fact that it permits field, soil cultivation, levelling, digging, excavation work to be carried out in any type of soil and in any-climatic conditions and at the same time loading to'be carried out from sandy to course material in positive operation and in constant flow.

The invention will be described further, by way of exwhich:

FIG. 1 an elevation of themachine in accordance with FIG. 4 illustrates .the vertical-swinging posibilities o p the machine.

A disc cutter indicated generally by Fr consists of 1a fiat wheel rim =1, spoke arms 2, --a hub sleeve 3 and adrivi-ng shaft 4. Mounted on the Wheel rim 1 and the spoke 2 according to requirement are interchangeable cutting or! I digging tools, for example, teeth 5 and cuttinge'dges 16. Closely fitting below the disc cutter Fr in the front, working, region of the wheel rim periphery up to approximately the centre of the disc cutter is arranged a rigid receiving plate 7. The lower'rnounting8 of the driving shaft 4 of the disc cutter Fr is situated at the upper part of plate 7, while the upper mountingis efiected in the pivotally mounted pedestal bearing structure 9. By means of eye bearings 10 of side walls 11 of the receiving plate 7 the aforesaid machine elements are adapted to be swung vertically and adjustably in height about the pivot 12, as it is evident from the arrows shown in FIGS. 1 "and 4. The pivot 12 is accommodated in thechassis frame R and also forms a pivot for the endless revolving conveyor belt guides 13 are provided with which rollers 14 of the pivotal pedestal bearing construction 9 are in rolling engagement when the machine elements are swung. about the pivot 12, as shown in FIG. 4'. FIG. 4 moreover shows the horizontal swing by means of a hand crank with paw1.'15, on either side there being provided a small and a large gear or worm and worm gear 16, 17 the small gears or'worms 16 being rigidly mounted on the chassis frame/R and the large gears or worm gears 17 being mounted rigidly on the side walls .11 of the receiving plate 7. Also rigidly connected with the side walls 11 on either side are limiting and guide plates 18. which participateiu the swinging movements. The drive for executing clockwise and anticlockwise rotary movements of the disc cutter Fr may be eflected in two different ways. drive, power is transmitted from an internal combustion engine or electric motor M mounted on the chassis .firame R via the gear box 19,, the bevel gear pair 20, 21, the

articulated shaft 22, the small bevel gear 23 to the large I bevel gear 24, which is spliried to the drive shaft 4 of the Driving shaft 4 and hub bush} are also,

dern then power is transmitted by means of thearticulated' shaft 27 via the small bevel .gear 28 to the large bevel gear 24. The articulated shaft 22 may be dismantled when jogging movements are not required, The smallbevel gear 23 then idles. The small bevel gear 28 is mounted in the pedestal bearing 290i the pivotal pedestal bearing construction 9. In order to obtain a constant jogging movement of the chassis frame R during opera-. tion, and thereby cause rthe material G to become readily detached and to drop, especially when it is caked'or in coarse pieces, there is formed inknown manner, on either side, a resilient connection by means of spring bolts .33'

between bearing stands 30 of. axle 31 of wheels 32 and the chassis frame .Rf #Bars 34 are journalled 'at one end to bolts 35 of the chassis frame R and hingedly connected at the other end 3'6.to small V-pulleys37, which in In the case of individual I are mounted on the axle 31. The connections at 36 are radially spaced from the axes of the pulleys 37, so that, during rotation of pulleys 37, a jogging motion is imparted to frame R. The drive for the jogging movements is transmitted from the internal combustion engine or electric motor M via the gear box 19, the large V-pulleys 38, the pulley 39 to the small V-pulleys 37. In the case of a separate drive from a power take-oli shaft of a tractor connected in tandem, the power transmission for the jogging movements has to be efiected at the rear from the large bevel gear 24 via the small bevel gear 23, the articulated shaft 22, the bevel gear pair 21, 28, the gear box 19 to the large V-pulleys 37.

The points of engagement of force for advancing the machine are indicated in FIGS. 1 to 4 by means of directional arrows designated by P.

If the material G conveyed by the disc cutter Pr and displaced thereby to the rear portion of the machine or dropped due to gravity, is to be conveyed further back, then below the disc cutter Fr and the receiving plate 7 a conveying member B is provided. This member B may comprise, for example, an endless apron conveyor, rubber, scraper belt or the like. Constructionally it is also possible for a screw conveyor, a pneumatic extraction pipe or the like to carry out this work. As previously stated the pivot 12 mounted in the chassis frame R forms the pivot for the reversing roller 4% of the conveying member B, while the delivery roller 41 is disposed at the other end of the run of the belt. The delivery roller 4-1 conveniently forms the drive being constituted as a belt drum motor. The conveying member B is supported by means of supporting bands 42, which are suspended on corresponding fixing eyelets 43 of the chassis frame R. Adjustment of bands 42 renders it possible to swing the conveying member B vertically about the pivot 12.

If during agricultural work, for example, when ploughing, or cultivating the soil, when the material G from the receiving plate 7 drops straight on to the ground, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in full lines, and is to be subsequently treated, then the disc cutters 32 may be substituted by known disc harrow wheels 44 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 and disc harrow wheels 44 may also be mounted on the axles 33.. FIG. 4 shows how the horizontal swinging of the chassis frame R about its travelling wheels 32 or the disc harrow wheels 44 can be effected when the machine in accordance with the invention is towed by the towing gear 45 of a tractor connected in tandem. (Shown in dotted lines.) On the implement carrier 45 is mounted a worm 46 adapted to be actuated by means of a hand crank 47, while the worm gear segment 48 co-operating with the worm 46 is mounted on the chassis frame R. When the hand crank is rotated the chassis frame R is caused to execute the swinging movements illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 4.

If the machine is to be used exclusively for earth shifting and loading work, then it is expedient to fit the machine With its own travelling gear 49, which in known manner is fitted with low-pressure tyres or caterpillar track or adapted to run on rails or on an advance spar.

Shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment with short caterpillar tracks 56 and the steering wheel 51. The travelling gear motor M is mounted on the chassis frame R. On a jib 53, adapted to be vertically swung about the pivot 52, and extending over the entire length thereof is the conveying member B, while on the front end is mounted the previously described earth working machine. The swinging possibilities of this arrangement are indicated by the associated arrows in FIG. 1. The swinging movements are carried out in known manner, expediently by oil operated hydraulic cylinders 54. At the delivery end of the conveying member B there is arranged in known manner a loading belt V adapted to be swung in all directions which ensures continuous loadmg.

Various modifications may be made in the structural details of a machine in accordance with the invention.

Thus, for example, the mounting of the disc cutter or cutters Fr may be effected exclusively in the receiving plate '7 and the drive too may be eliected exclusively from below. in this case, when there is a separate drive, the articulated shaft 27 has also to be connected.

If two disc cutters Fr are put in operation adjacent to one another they are caused to operate in opposite direc tions and the material G is thus deposited on the conveying member B which now revolves in the centre between the two cutters.

The method of operation of the machine in accordance with the invention is as follows:

When the machine has been brought up to the site, the disc cutter or cutters Fr is swung into the appropriate operating position in accordance with the work to be carried out. Due to the advancing pressure P the cutting or digging tools 5, 6 of the plate-shaped wheel rims 1 and spoke arms 2 are pressed against the material G and, for example, with cultivated soil, they cut, and with heaped material they lift the section of the material engaged, thus causing the latter to drop on the rigid receiving plate 7. Partly by means of the cutting or digging tools 5, but mainly by the spoke arms 2 and the tools a thereof this portion of the material is positively carried along and upward in accordance with the given direction of rotation of the disc cutters Fr to the extent to which such material is supported by the receiving plate 7, i.e. up to and immediately past the centres of the disc cutters Fr. Since at this point the receiving plate 7 ends, the material G due to weight will drop down, an operation which is also assisted by the thrust of the following spoke arm 2. This material is then deposited either on the ground or on the conveying member B. During this operation the cutting or digging tools 5, 6, or the next spoke arm 2 and the corresponding segments or the wheel rims 1 with their tool scoop or cut out further portions of the material G such material again dropping on to the receiving plate 7 and the previously described cycle is repeated. In this way there is ensured a continuous working process.

A jogging movement has been provided in order, as previously mentioned, to obtain an improved detachment of the material G being conveyed from the spoke arms 2', the wheel rims 1, the cutting and digging tools 5, 6 thereof and the hub sleeve 3, particularly in the case of coarse or caking material. The optimum rate of jogging is dependent upon the nature of the material G being worked and may be varied by mounting difierent sized pulleys 38.

In order to obtain a good free machine space while enabling the lateral travel movements to be kept as small as possible, in a construction having a single disc cutter F;- the latter is adapted to be inserted to operate in a clockwise and an anti-clockwise direction.

I claim:

1. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, support means; rotary tool means mounted on said support means turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of and above said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said axis with openings therethrough so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; and a receiving plate mounted on said support means stationary with respect to said axis and extending in a plane substantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said plate.

2. In a machine for working and removing soil 'or similar material, in combination, support means; rotary tool means mountedton said support means turnable about an inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of and above said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said axis with openings therethrough so that material eugaged and transported'by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; and a receiving plate mounted on said support means stationary with respect to said axis and extending in a plane substantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, said plate having a front edge portion substantially concentric and substantially coinciding with the portion of the outer periphery of said rotary tool means which is at any instant located forwardly of said axis.

3. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, support means; rotary tool means mounted on-said support means turnable about an ,axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, said rotary tool means including an outer annular rim portion having a top and a bottom face and an axis coinciding with said axis, a piuraiity of spoke plates extending in radial direction spaced from each other from said rim portion toward said axis and having each an outer edge extending inclined to said 7, axis from said-rim portion toward said axis and a bottom edge located substantially in the plane of said bottom face of said rim portion, and cutting means arranged on said top face ofsaid rim portion and on said outer edges of said spoke plates so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through the open spaces between said rim portion and'said spoke P1ates; and ajreceiving plate mounted on said support means 'stationary with respect to said axis and substantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means with the upper surface of said plate in sliding contact'with :the bottom face of said rim portion and with the bottom ,edgesof said spoke platen, said receiving'plate extendingforwardly of said axis to underlie the ;open' spaces located atany instant forwardly of said .axis While leaving at least one of said open spaces located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, said plate having a. front edge portion substantially con centric and substantially coinciding .with a portion ofthe outer periphery of said portion located at any instant forwardly of said axis. a

4. In a machine for working 'and' removing soil or similar material, in combination, support :means; rotary tool means arranged turnable about an axis 'inclined to a'ho-rizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, said rotary tool means including shaft means having an axis coinciding with said axis, an annular rim portion concentric with said shaft means and having a top and a bottom face, a plurality of spoke plates extending spaced from-each other in radial direction from said rim portion to said shaft means and'being each connected at an inner edgeportion thereof to said shaft means and having each an outer edge extending inclined to said axis from said rim-portion toward said axis and a bottom edge located substantially in the plane of-saidbottom face of said rim portion, and cutting means arranged on said topface of said rim portion and on said outer edges of said spoke plates so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall throughthe open spaces between saidrirmportion and said spoke plates; a'receiving-plate mounted on said support means stationarywith respect to 'said axis and substantially normal thereto beneathandclosely adjacent to said rotary tool means with the upper surfaceof said plate in sliding contact with the bottom face of said rim portion and'with the bottom edges of said spokeplates, said receiving plate extending fon' wardly of said axis to underlie the open spaces located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at leastoneof saidopen spaces located'at'any-instant rear-- wardly of said axis uncovered, said plate having aifront edge portion substantially concentric and substantially coinciding with a portion of the outer periphery of said rim portionlocatedatany instant forwardly of saidaxis;

and bearing means in said plate for turnably receiving and supporting the lower end of said shaft means.

5. in a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, support means; rotary tool means arranged, turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane forengaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, said rotary tool means including shaft means having an an inner edge portion thereof to said shaft means and having each an outer edge extending inclined to said axis from said rim portion toward said axis and a bottom edge located substantially in the plane of said bottom face of said rirnportiomand cutting means arranged onsaid top face of said rim portion and on said outer edges of said spoke plates so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may .fall through the open spaces between said rirnportion and said spoke plates; a receiving plate mounted on said support means stationary with respect to said axis andsubstantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means with the upper surface of said plate in sliding contact with the bottom face of said rim portion and with the bottom edges of said spoke plates and .pivotable about a second axis extending transverse to said first mentioned axis, said receivmgplate extending forwardlyiof said axistto under-V turnably receiving and supporting the lower end of said shaft means; and means operatively connected to said support means and said receiving plate for pivotingsaid plate and therewith said rotary tool means about said secondiaxis. 6. In a machine for working and removing soil or simil material, in combination, support means; rotary tool. means arranged turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said roe tary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, saidrotary tool means includmg shaft means having an axis coinciding.

with said axis, an annular rim portion concentric with said shaft means and having a top and a bottom face, a plurality of spoke plates extending spaced from-each other in a radial direction from said rim portion to said shaft means and being each connected at an inner edge portion thereof to said shaft means. andhaving each an outer edge 7 extending inclined to said axis from said rim portion toward said axis and a bottom edge located substantially in a plane of said bottomfaceof said rim portion, and cutting means arranged on said top face of said rim portion and on said outer edges of said spoke plates so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through the open spaces between said rim portion and said spoke plates; a receiving plate mounted on said support means stationary with respect to said axis and substantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means with the upper surface of said plate in sliding contact with the bottom face of said rim portion and with the bottom edges of said spoke plates and pivotable about a second axis extending transverse to said first mentioned axis, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the open spaces located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said open spaces located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, said plate having a front edge portion substantially concentric and substantially coinciding with a portion of the outer periphery of said rim portion located at any instant forwardly of said axis; bearing means in said plate for turnably receiving and supporting the lower end of said shaft means; means operatively connected to said support means and said receiving plate for pivoting said plate and therewith said rotary tool means about said second axis; and means operatively connected to said support means and said plate for oscillating said plate and said tool means substantially in direction of said first axis.

7. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, support means; rotary tool means mounted on said support means turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of and above said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said .axis with openings therethrough so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; a receiving plate mounted on said support means stationary with respect to said axis and extending in a plane substantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis While leaving at least one of said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said plate; and elongated transporting means having a surface portion located beneath said one opening so that material engaged by said rotary tool means and transported by the same to said one opening will fall through said opening onto said elongated transporting means to be transported thereby away from said rotary tool means.

8. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, rotary tool means arranged turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in a rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said axis with openings therethrough so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; a receiving plate arranged stationary with respect to said axis and substantially normal thereto arranged beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means in sliding contact with a bottom surface of the latter, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said plate; bearing means in said plate for supporting said rotary tool means turnable about said axis; frame means supporting said plate tiltable about a second axis extending transverse to said first mentioned am's, said frame means having a rear 1% portion located rearwardly of said second axis; and support means supporting said frame means in the region of said rear portion tiltable about a third axis substantially parallel to said second axis.

9. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, rotary tool means arranged turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged material in a rotary motion in a rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said axis with openings therethrough so that material e11- gaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; a receiving plate arranged stationary with respect to said axis and substantially normal thereto arranged beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means in sliding contact with a bottom surface of the latter, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least oneof said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said plate; bearing means in said plate for supporting said rotary tool means turnable about said axis; frame means supporting said plate tiltable about a second axis extending transverse to said first mentioned axis, said frame means having a rear portion located rearwardly of said second axis; first adjusting means operatively connected to said plate and said frame means for tilting said plate about said second axis; support means supporting said frame means in the region of said rear portion tiltable about a third axis substantially parallel to said second axis; and second adjusting means operatively connected to said frame means and to said support means for tilting said frame means about said third axis.

10. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, rotary tool means arranged turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and for transporting the engaged mat rial in a rotary motion in a rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said axis with openings therethrough so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; a receiving plate arranged stationary with respect to said axis and substantially normal thereto arranged beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means in sliding contact with a bottom surface of the latter, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said plate; bearing means in said plate for supporting said rotary tool means turnable about said axis; frame means supporting said plate tiltable about a second axis extending transverse to said first mentioned axis, said frame means having a rear portion located rearwardly of said second axis; first adjusting means operatively connected to said plate and said frame means for tilting said plate about said second axis; support means supporting said frame means in the region of said rear portion tiltable about a third axis substantially parallel to said second axis; second adjusting means operatively connected to said frame means and to said support means for tilting said frame means about said third axis; and elongated transporting means including an endless transporting band having an upper run located beneath said one opening so that material egaged by said rotary tool means and transported thereby to said one opening will fall through said opening onto said upper run to be transported thereby away from rotary tool means, said elongated transporting means including further a front guide roller having an axis coinciding with said second axis and a rear guide roller having an axis substantially parallel to andspaced from said second axis, said endless transporting band being wound about said rollers, and means for adjusting the elevation of said second guide roller.

11. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, rotary tool means a ranged turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane for engaging material located forwardly of said rotary tool means and -for transporting the engaged material in arotary motion in a rearward direction, said rotary tool means being formed in a plane substantially normal to said axis with openings therethrough so that material engaged and transported by said rotary tool means may fall through said openings; a receiving plate arranged stationary with respect to said axis and substantially normal thereto arranged beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means in sliding contact with a bottom surface of the latter, said receiving plate extending forwardly of said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said openings located at any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said .plate; bearing means in said plate for supporting said rotary tool means turnable about said axis; frame means supporting said plate tilta-ble about a second axis extending transverse to said first mentioned axis, said frame means having a rear portion located rearwardly of said second axis; drive means for driving said rotary tool means mounted on said frame means;

transmission means including universal joint shaft means for transmitting the drive from said drive means to said rotary tool means; and support means supporting said frame means in the region of said rear portion tiltable about a third axis substantially parallel to said second axis.

12. In a machine for working and removing soil or similar material, in combination, support means, rotary tool ineansmounted on said support means turnable about an axis inclined to a horizontal plane tor-engaging material tially normal to said axis, and'cutting means projecting in upward direction from said last mentioned plane, said rotary tool means being formed inwardly of said rim por- I tion with a plurality of openings therethrough so that material engaged and transported by said'tool means may fall through said openings; and a receiving plate mounted on said support means stationary with respectto said axis and extending in a plane substantially normal thereto beneath and closely adjacent to said rotary tool means with the upper surface of said plate in sliding arrangement with said-bottom face of said rim portion, said'receiving plate extending forwardlyof said axis to underlie the openings located at any instant forwardly of said axis while leaving at least one of said openings located at'any instant rearwardly of said axis uncovered, [all portions of said rotary tool means located at any instant forwardly of said axis being located substantially within the area of said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Sept. '14, 1955

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