Tractor scraper apron drive

Abstract

A tractor scraper includes a tractor portion and a scraper portion. The scraper portion may include a bowl and an apron disposed adjacent a forward end of the bowl. The tractor scraper may also include a drive configured to raise the apron. The drive may include an actuator drivingly connected to a pinion. The drive may also include a rack connected to the apron and the pinion in a manner allowing the actuator to raise the apron by driving the rack with the pinion. The rack may be connected to the apron in a manner allowing relative movement between the rack and the apron.

1 . A tractor scraper, comprising:
 a tractor portion;   a scraper portion disposed rearward of the tractor portion, the scraper portion including
 a bowl, and 
 an apron disposed adjacent a forward end of the bowl; and 
   a drive configured to raise the apron, the drive including
 an actuator drivingly connected to a pinion; 
 a rack connected to the apron and operably engaged to the pinion to allow the actuator to raise the apron by driving the rack with the pinion, wherein the rack is connected to the apron in a manner allowing relative movement between the rack and the apron. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is connected to the apron in a manner allowing pivotal relative movement between the rack and the apron. 
     
     
         3 . The tractor scraper of  claim 2 , wherein the rack is pivotally pinned to a front face of the apron. 
     
     
         4 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is guided between the pinion and a retainer engaging a face of the rack opposite the pinion. 
     
     
         5 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is guided in a manner restraining movement of the rack in directions parallel to the axis of the pinion. 
     
     
         6 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the rack differs from a shape of a vertical cross-section of the forward face of the apron. 
     
     
         7 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the rack has a substantially straight longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of teeth facing rearward. 
     
     
         9 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator, the pinion, and the rack are mounted to the scraper portion of the tractor scraper. 
     
     
         10 . The tractor scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a rotary motor. 
     
     
         11 . A tractor scraper, comprising:
 a tractor portion;   a scraper portion disposed rearward of the tractor portion, the scraper portion including
 a bowl, and 
 an apron disposed adjacent a forward end of the bowl, the apron including a front face; and 
   a drive configured to raise the apron, the drive including
 an actuator drivingly connected to a pinion, and 
 a rack pivotally pinned to the front face of the apron, wherein the pinion is operably engaged to the rack to allow the actuator to raise the apron by driving the rack with the pinion, and wherein the rack is guided between the pinion and a retainer engaging a face of the rack opposite the pinion. 
   
     
     
         12 . The tractor scraper of  claim 11 , wherein a shape of the rack differs from a shape of a vertical cross-section of the forward face of the apron. 
     
     
         13 . The tractor scraper of  claim 11 , wherein the rack has a substantially straight longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The tractor scraper of  claim 13 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of teeth facing rearward. 
     
     
         15 . The tractor scraper of  claim 11 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of teeth facing rearward. 
     
     
         16 . A tractor scraper, comprising:
 a tractor portion;   a scraper portion disposed rearward of the tractor portion, the scraper portion including
 a bowl, and 
 an apron with a forward face disposed adjacent a forward end of the bowl; and 
   a drive configured to raise the apron to open the forward end of the bowl, the drive including
 an actuator drivingly connected to a pinion; 
 a rack connected to the apron and operably engaged to the pinion to allow the actuator to raise the apron by driving the rack with the pinion, wherein a shape of the rack differs from a shape of a vertical cross-section of the forward face of the apron. 
   
     
     
         17 . The tractor scraper of  claim 16 , wherein the rack has a substantially straight longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The tractor scraper of  claim 17 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of teeth facing rearward. 
     
     
         19 . The tractor scraper of  claim 16 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of teeth facing rearward. 
     
     
         20 . The tractor scraper of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the rack is pivotally pinned to a front face of the apron; and   the rack is guided between the pinion and a retainer engaging a face of the rack opposite the pinion.