Granted Patent B2

US 12,378,082 · App. 18/049,536 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Inventors: Peter A. Ligman (Darien, WI); Bradley Alan Davis (Janesville, WI); Carey A. Zielinski (Janesville, WI)

Assignee: Ligchine International Corporation

B65G41/002B65G21/14B65G41/005B65G41/008

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. A conveyor apparatus for conveying a material, said apparatus capable of attachment to a skid loader, said skid loader having an accessory mounting assembly, a hydraulic system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid, and an electrical system for providing a source of electrical power, said conveyor apparatus comprising:

a mounting frame having a mounting plate disposed on a rear portion hereof for securing said mounting frame to said skid loader mounting assembly, said mounting frame having a rotatable slew drive secured thereto that includes a rotatable upper plate;

a boom frame having a rear and front end, said rear end thereof secured to said slew drive upper plate, said boom frame housing a plurality of connected conveyor sections, said sections connected by a belt that is rotatably disposed around a plurality of rollers;

at least one conveyor hydraulic motor operably coupled to said skid loader hydraulic system, said hydraulic motor operatively coupled to at least conveyor drive roller for rotating said conveyor belt; and

a plurality of replaceable wear slides positioned at a plurality of points along a bottom portion of said boom frame, said first conveyor section, said second conveyor section, and said third conveyor section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

a first conveyor section for supporting and guiding said conveyor belt driven by said conveyor drive roller disposed inside said boom frame;

a second conveyor section for supporting and guiding said conveyor belt that is slidably mounted with respect to said first conveyor section; and

a third conveyor section for supporting and guiding said conveyor belt that is slidably mounted with respect to said first and second conveyor sections, wherein said first and second conveyor sections are capable of being extended outwardly beyond a front end of said boom frame, thereby providing a telescopic and extendable conveyor apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising:

at least one tensioning roller over which said conveyor belt is routed, said tensioning roller journaled for rotation proximate a terminal end of said third conveyor section and said tensioning roller capable of at least horizontal adjustment to provide tension to said conveyor belt.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising:

a plurality of guide rollers journaled for rotation at a plurality of points along said boom frame and said first, second and third conveyor sections to provide support and tension to said conveyor belt.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising:

a pair of telescopic boom actuators secured between a point of said boom frame and a front end of said second conveyor section, on either side thereof, said boom actuators being capable of extension and retraction, whereby extension of said boom actuators extends said second conveyor section outwardly from said first conveyor section; and

at least one telescopic boom cable secured at a first end to said second conveyor and at a second end to said third conveyor section, said telescopic boom cable also being routed around a pulley mounted for rotation at a point on said third conveyor section; and

wherein as telescopic boom actuators extend said second conveyor section, said telescopic boom cables are placed under tension thereby simultaneously extending said third boom section outwardly.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising:

a pair of boom mounts secured to and extending from said slew drive upper plate, having a pair of opposed hinges to which said boom frame rear end is pivotally secured; and

a pair of conveyor elevation actuators secured between an upper point on said boom frame and said mounting frame, wherein extension of said elevation actuators elevates the front end of said boom frame, thereby elevating said conveyor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

a pair of outriggers secured for horizontal rotation to opposed sides of said mounting frame, said outriggers having a terminal end having a rotatable wheel secured thereto.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said pair of outriggers comprises:

an outrigger lateral arm having first and second ends, said first end rotatably secured to said mounting frame for lateral rotation;

an outrigger elevation arm having first and second ends, said first end secured for rotation to said second end of said lateral arm;

a wheel pivotally secured to said second end of said elevation arm; and

whereby said outriggers may be positioned to level said conveyor apparatus and positioned for transport of said conveyor apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said pair of outriggers comprises:

a lateral actuator secured between said mounting frame and said second end of said lateral arm whereby extension and retraction of said lateral actuator effects lateral rotation of said lateral arm; and

an elevation actuator secured between said first end of said lateral arm and said first end of said elevation arm whereby extension and retraction of said elevation actuator effects elevation and lowering of said elevation arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lateral actuator and said elevation actuator are hydraulic cylinders operatively coupled to said skid loader hydraulic system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 comprising:

a slew ring hydraulic motor operatively coupled to said skid loader hydraulic system for powering said slew drive and rotating of said boom frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said boom frame and said conveyor sections are rotatable through at least forty-five degrees of rotation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said lateral actuator and said elevation actuator are electrically powered actuators operatively coupled to said skid loader electrical power system.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising:

a hopper mounted above the rear end of said boom frame for collecting and guiding said material onto said first conveyor section.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising:

an outlet cone secured at a terminal end of said third conveyor section for collecting and guiding said material out of said conveyor apparatus.

16. A conveyor apparatus for attachment to a skid loader, said skid loader having an accessory mounting assembly, a hydraulic system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid, and an electrical system for providing a source of electrical power, said conveyor apparatus comprising:

a mounting frame having a mounting plate disposed on a rear portion hereof for securing said mounting frame to said skid loader mounting assembly, said mounting frame having a rotatable slew drive secured thereto that includes a rotatable upper plate capable of generally horizontal rotation;

a boom frame secured to said slew drive upper plate;

a first conveyor section for supporting and guiding a conveyor belt, said conveyor section having at least one conveyor drive roller, said first conveyor section disposed inside said boom frame;

a second conveyor section for supporting and guiding said conveyor belt that is slidably mounted with respect to said first conveyor section; and

a third conveyor section for supporting and guiding said conveyor belt that is slidably mounted with respect to said first and second conveyor sections, wherein said first and second conveyor sections are capable of being extended outwardly beyond a front end of said boom frame, thereby providing a telescopic and extendable conveyor apparatus;

a pair of telescopic boom actuators secured between a point of said boom frame and a front end of said second conveyor section, on either side thereof, said boom actuators being capable of extension and retraction to elevate said boom frame;

a pair of outriggers secured for horizontal rotation to opposed sides of said mounting frame, said outriggers each having a lateral arm having first and second ends, and an elevation arm having first and second ends, said elevation arm having a a rotatable wheel secured to the second end thereof; and

at least one conveyor hydraulic motor operably coupled to said skid loader hydraulic system, said hydraulic motor operatively coupled to at least conveyor drive roller for rotating said conveyor belt.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 comprising:

a lateral actuator secured between said mounting frame and said second end of said lateral arm whereby extension and retraction of said lateral actuator effects lateral rotation of said lateral arm; and

an elevation actuator secured between said first end of said lateral arm and said first end of said elevation arm whereby extension and retraction of said elevation actuator effects elevation and lowering of said elevation arm.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said slew drive, said telescopic boom actuators, said lateral actuator and said elevation actuator are hydraulic cylinders operatively coupled to said skid loader hydraulic system.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said slew drive, said telescopic boom actuators, said lateral actuator and said elevation actuator are electrical actuators operatively coupled to said skid loader electrical system.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said actuators are operated through a remote control user interface.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (266)

Cited By (1)

US 12,589,958