AU6713598A - Appliance for providing rotational movement of a workpiece - Google Patents

Description

WO 98/45541 PCT/AU98/00230 1 5 Appliance for providing rotational movement of a workpiece Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for providing rotational movement of a workpiece and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to apparatus for providing such rotational movement of a workpiece attached to a mechanism by a mounting frame. o10 Background of the invention In many fields of endeavour, workpieces are operated by mechanism so as to perform a particular task. An example of this is a bucket attached to an articulated arm of an excavator. In such a bucket, the bucket can be opened and closed; tilted; and the excavator arm pivoted about its joints by using the hydraulic or pneumatic systems of the excavator. 15 All of these movements occur in the general plane of the arm of the excavator. This has provided great limitations in the way in which the excavator can operate. It has also been found with other workpieces attached to mechanisms - such as the blade attached to a grader - that complex control mechanisms are required to provide the necessary angular movement. 20 It is for such workpieces and mechanisms that the present invention is intended to be used, although it is not to be limited to those applications alone. Brief description of the invention The invention provides apparatus for providing rotational movement of a workpiece, the workpiece being attached to a mechanism by a mounting frame and being adapted to be 25 operated by the mechanism, the apparatus including a driven shaft removably attached to the workpiece and extending upwardly therefrom, a planet ring system concentric with the shaft, the planet ring system including a first ring attached to the workpiece and a second ring attached to the mounting frame, and a motor attached to the mounting frame to drive the shaft to enable the workpiece to be rotated relative to the mounting frame. 30 Preferably, the shaft may be attached to the workpiece by means of a rotatable hub. Preferably, there is provided an attachment frame securely attached to the workpiece to which the rotatable hub and the first ring are attached. Preferably, the shaft is splined so as to receive in a operative way a splined drive being part of the motor. Preferably, the hub is attached to the attachment frame.

WO 98/45541 PCT/AU98/00230 2 5 Description of the drawings In order that the invention may be readily understood, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only a preferred construction of apparatus of providing rotational movement of a workpiece in accordance with the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: 10 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an excavator with bucket attached, there being the apparatus according to the invention attached to the bucket; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the bucket as shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the mounting frame and apparatus for providing rotational movement of the present invention as shown in Figures 1 15 and 2; Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the drive system of the invention as used in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view along the lines and into the direction of arrows 5-5 of Figure 4; and 20 Figure 6 is a schematic, perspective view of the interior of the cabin of the excavator of Figure 1. Description of the preferred embodiment To firstly refer to Figure 1, there is shown an excavator generally designated as 10 and which has an outwardly extending arm 12 generally operated by a plurality of double 25 acting hydraulic rams 14. The arm 12, at its outer end, has a mounting frame 16 to which is mounted a bucket 18. The mounting frame 16 is secured to the bucket 18 and is able to be attached to the arm 12 in the usual manner. The nature of the excavator 10, arm 12 and rams 14 is well known and any suitable excavator, arms and rams could be used. They will therefore not be further 30 described. To now refer to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown the bucket 18 which has the usual front and rear portions 20, 22 respectively. An upper frame 24 is provided to which the portions 20, 22 are pivotally attached. Double-acting hydraulic rams 26 are used to control portions 20, 22. All of this is known.

WO 98/45541 PCT/AU98/00230 3 5 Mounted to frame 24 is the mounting frame 16. As has been stated above, this is of relatively well known construction. Attached to the mounting frame 16 is a hydraulic motor 28 which is used to provide the rotational movement of the bucket 18 relative to the mounting frame 16. The mounting frame 16 has a lower wall 30 to which is mounted the hydraulic motor 28 in a secure yet releasable manner. Bolts or the like would be 10 appropriate. Also secured to lower wall 30, but beneath the lower wall 30, is a cover plate 32 which is approximately circular, and has a depending skirt 34. Bolts 36 or the like may be used to attach coverplate 32 to lower wall 30. Mounted beneath coverplate 32 and within depending skirt 34, and also attached to frame 24, is the drive system which is driven by the hydraulic motor 28. This is more clearly 15 shown in Figures 4 and 5. An attachment frame 38 is secured to frame 24. At each end the attachment frame 38 has upstanding lugs 40 which support an inner ring 42 of a planet ring system. Ring 42 is secured to frame 24 by means of a plurality of bolts or the like 44. An outer ring 46 cooperates with the inner ring 42 by means of ball race 41. The outer ring 46 is secured by bolts (not shown) to coverplate 32 and/or lower wall 30. In this way, outer 20 ring 46 and inner ring 42 operate as a ball race turntable such as that sold under the registered trade mark "ROLLEX". Concentric with the rings 42, 46 is a central hub 48 which is secured to attachment frame 38. Also concentric with central hub 48 and secured therein is a shaft 50 which has a splined outer surface 52. The splined outer surface 52 engages in a correspondingly splined 25 sleeve 47 in motor 28. In this way, driving power can be transmitted to the attachment frame 38 yet a point of weakness be provided so that in the event of a fracture occurring, it will be at the splined interrelationship. The arrangement is such that when assembly takes place, shaft 50 is driven by hydraulic motor 28. An independent hydraulic supply line supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to 30 hydraulic pressure lines 53,55 so that hydraulic fluid under pressure can be passed to the hub 48 via connectors 49 in outer portion 57 of hub 48. Fluid from line 53 passes through connector 49 to an upper groove 51 in and extending around the outer surface 47 of inner portion 45 of hub 48 to provide a hydraulic coupling between inner 45 and outer portions 57, which is rotatable relative to outer portion 57. 35 Groove 51 is connected to an outlet connector 43 by a fluid passageway 41. Outlet WO 98/45541 PCT/AU98/00230 4 5 connector 43 is connected to hydraulic pressure lines 54a, which supplies fluid under pressure to both sides of the bucket 18, by a T-connector 33. Fluid from line 55 passes through connector 49 to a lower groove 39 in and extending around the outer surface 47 of inner portion 45 of hub 48. Groove 39 is connected to an outlet connector 37 by a fluid passageway 35. Outlet connector 37 is connected to a 10 second hydraulic pressure line 54b, which also supplies fluid under pressure to both sides of the bucket 18, by a second T-connector 33. By use of T-connectors 33, the hydraulic fluid from lines 53,55 passes to the bucket 18 by lines 54a and 54b so the bucket can still operate. Two inlet lines 53,55 with two corresponding outlet lines 54,57 are provided so that opening and closing movement of the bucket can be achieved. Therefore, the bucket 15 18 is able to be rotated to a position which is quite abnormal, as is shown in Figure 1. In this way the operator of the excavator can move the bucket to the exact position required to enable the work to be done. This can greatly simplify the completion of the work and thus require less time and more effective work. Preferably, lines 54a and 54b are wrapped around hub 48 by approximately 2700 to provide 20 sufficient length of line for assembly and disassembly. Also, locating pins 61 attached to hub 48 may be provided so that lugs on mounting frame 16 can locate over them. In Figure 6 there is a schematic illustration of the control system of the excavator cabin. As can be seen, there are windows 56 and control panels 58. These are entirely schematic and are not intended to represent the actual size, shape, or equipment of a particular excavator. 25 As is normal with an excavator, control arms are used to control the operation of the excavator. Two such control arms 60 are shown. At the upper end of each control arm is located a handle 62 to enable the operator to have a reasonable grip on the control arms 60. To the handles 62 are operatively connected a trigger 64 and buttons. The triggers 64 are used to control the operation of a hammer. The buttons, generally designated as 66, control 30 certain operations of the excavator 10. For the left lever 60, button 67 controls turn of the bucket in the clockwise direction; central button 71 controls the dig function of the excavator 10; and button 69 controls turn of the bucket in the anticlockwise direction. For the right lever 60 buttons 71 and 73 respectively control the opening and closing of the bucket 18, and button 75 the horn of the excavator 10. In this way the controls do not 35 require extra levers or extra operational action by an operator other than the use of a finger and thumb. Therefore, the operator of the excavator 10 does not require extra controls WO 98/45541 PCT/AU98/00230 5 5 which would make operation difficult as control of the excavator 10 would normally require both feet and both hands. By using the triggers 64 and the buttons 66, the operator still has full control over the excavator 10. The cabling for the trigger 64 and buttons 66 can pass through the interior of operating arms 60 and to appropriate relays and valving to control the operation of the relevant 10 hydraulic circuits. Preferably the relevant hydraulic circuits are an attachment or expansion of the existing hydraulic circuit of the excavator 10. Upon operation of the relevant button 66 the bucket will rotate in either the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction about the mounting frame 16 for as long as both the button 66 is held in its operational position. Upon release, the movement of the bucket 18 relative to 15 mounting frame i6 will cease. In this way, an operator has accurate control over the rotation or position of bucket 18 relative to mounting frame 16. Naturally, the bucket 18 may be replaced by any other suitable workpiece such as, for example: an auger bit, or other equipment capable of being used with an excavator. Furthermore, the excavator 10 is not mandatory and it may be, for example, a front-end 20 loader, grader, or the like. In the instance of a grader, the present invention may be used to control the angle of the blader grade relative to the longitudinal axis of the grader. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative 25 aspects of the invention. It will also be understood that where the term "comprises" or its grammatical variants, is employed herein, it is equivalent to the term "includes" and is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for providing rotational movement of a workpiece, the workpiece being attached to a mechanism by a mounting frame and being adapted to be operated by the mechanism, the apparatus including a driven shaft removably attached to the workpiece and extending upwardly therefrom, a planet ring system concentric with 10 the shaft, the planet ring system including a first ring attached to the workpiece and a second ring attached to the mounting frame, and a motor attached to the mounting frame to drive the shaft to enable the workpiece to be rotated relative to the mounting frame.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft is attached to the workpiece by 15 means of a rotatable hub.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided an attachment frame securely attached to the workpiece to which the rotatable hub and the first ring are attached.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shaft is splined so as 20 to receive in a operative way a splined drive being part of the motor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hub is attached to the attachment frame.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor. 25

7. Apparatus for providing rotational movement of a workpiece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.