Earthmoving device with materials handling improvements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for scraping material from the earth. The device has a scraper housing, which may be attached to the front of a bulldozer or other earthmoving vehicle. The scraper housing may generally include a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a center support, and a brace. The device may be equipped with a scraper blade attached to an earth transfer plate, the scraper blade attached proximate to the front of the scraper housing. As the scraper housing is urged forward, the scraper blade scrapes material from the earth which, by the force of the material being scraped, is forced along the earth transfer plate. After reaching the end of the earth transfer plate, the material can be deposited onto a scraper conveyor that has a belt extending between the side walls of the housing. The scraper conveyor belt continuously moves material toward an opening in the second wall. The device may also include a boom conveyor extending from an outside portion of the second side wall of the scraper housing and located below the opening in the second side wall to catch material conveyed past the edge of the scraper conveyor belt to carry the material to a distant location. For example the boom conveyor may be positioned over a truck so that material is continuously moved from the scraper housing to the truck for transportation and dumping. The boom conveyor may be supported by an adjustable support member. To assist movement of material along the upwardly sloped surface of the earth transfer plate a rotating shaft above that plate with plates or vanes extending therefrom can be used.

1 . A materials moving apparatus comprising:
 a motor operated vehicle;   a scraper housing attached to the vehicle;   a conveyor belt operating within the housing to discharge material from the housing;   an upwardly sloped materials transfer plate attached to the housing having a first edge proximate the material being moved and a second edge located proximate to and above the conveyor belt for conveying material to the conveyor; and   a rotating material mover mounted on the housing adjacent the earth transfer plate to assist in transfer of material from the plate to the conveyor   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the material mover is a rotating drum with vanes mounted thereon 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the material mover is a shaft with members extending therefrom into close proximity to the upper surface of the earth transfer plate. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the members extending from the material mover are arranged in a helical pattern. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the axes of the material mover is located near the middle of the materials transfer plate. 
   
   
       6 . An earthmoving attachment comprising:
 A scraper housing including a scraper blade, an upwardly sloped earth transfer plate, a scraper conveyor belt positioned below the upper edge of the sloped earth transfer plate for continuously moving material from material transfer plate toward an opening in the scraper housing; and a material mover adjacent the material transfer plate for assisting movement of the material from the sloped material transfer plate onto the conveyor.