CA2199208A1 - Surface mining shovel - Google Patents
Surface mining shovelInfo
- Publication number
- CA2199208A1 CA2199208A1 CA002199208A CA2199208A CA2199208A1 CA 2199208 A1 CA2199208 A1 CA 2199208A1 CA 002199208 A CA002199208 A CA 002199208A CA 2199208 A CA2199208 A CA 2199208A CA 2199208 A1 CA2199208 A1 CA 2199208A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- arm
- boom
- bucket
- pivot axis
- frame
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
- E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
- E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
- E02F3/36—Component parts
- E02F3/42—Drives for dippers, buckets, dipper-arms or bucket-arms
- E02F3/427—Drives for dippers, buckets, dipper-arms or bucket-arms with mechanical drives
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
- E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
- E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
- E02F3/30—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets with a dipper-arm pivoted on a cantilever beam, i.e. boom
- E02F3/308—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets with a dipper-arm pivoted on a cantilever beam, i.e. boom working outwardly
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
- E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
- E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
- E02F3/34—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets with bucket-arms, i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms directly pivoted on the frames of tractors or self-propelled machines
- E02F3/3405—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets with bucket-arms, i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms directly pivoted on the frames of tractors or self-propelled machines and comprising an additional linkage mechanism
- E02F3/3411—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets with bucket-arms, i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms directly pivoted on the frames of tractors or self-propelled machines and comprising an additional linkage mechanism of the Z-type
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
- E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
- E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
- E02F3/34—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets with bucket-arms, i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms directly pivoted on the frames of tractors or self-propelled machines
- E02F3/358—Bucket-arms pivoted on a turntable being part of a tractor frame or buckets arranged on a turntable supported by the arms
Abstract
A power shovel including: a frame; a boom extending upward from the frame, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis; an arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm; a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket; a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis for scooping and retaining earth material in the bucket and for emptying earth material from the bucket; an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom at a first point and connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
Description
~ 9208 SURFACE MINING SHOVEL
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application serial no. 08/237,955, filed May 3, 1994, which is incorporated herein by reference and which is a continuation-in-part of application serial no. 07/803,839, filed December 9, 1991, now abandoned.
BA~KGROUND OF THE INVENTIQN
Field of the Invention The invention relates to surface mining shovels.
Discussion of Prior Art The most common type of surface mining shovel, usually referred to as an "electric" shovel, is typified by the P&H Model 4100 (P&H Mining Equipment; Milwaukee, Wisconsin). An electric shovel includes a frame which is supported on a set of crawler tracks for movement across the ground. A machinery house is mounted on the frame and houses electric swing motors and gear drives for revolving the frame on the crawler tracks. The machinery house also houses a hoist drum and an associated electric motor and drive gears for rotating the hoist drum. An operator's cab is mounted on the machinery house. A gantry support extends upwardly from the frame. The lower end of a long ~ i 99208 IIA}IN9095 .CIP
fixed boom is mounted on the frame, and boom supports extend from the gantry support to the outer end of the boom for supporting the boom in a fixed position relative to the frame. A sheave is mounted on the outer end of the boom. A rack and pinion crowd mechanism is supported on the boom at a position intermediate the ends of the boom. The crowd mechanism supports the inner portion of an elongated dipper handle for translational movement relative to the boom. The crowd mechanism is driven by electric motors and is operable for translating or crowding the dipper handle relative to the boom in the direction along the longitudinal axis of the dipper handle. A two-part dipper, including a body and a door, is rigidly mounted on the outer end of the dipper handle.
A hoist rope is connected to the dipper, is reeved over the sheave and is wound around the hoist drum for raising and lowering the dipper. A control mechanism such as a pull rope is connected from the operator~s cab to the dipper for opening a catch to permit the door o~ the dipper to swing open by gravity for emptying earth material from the dipper.
A variation of an electric shovel is disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,465,903 to Wilson. The shovel disclosed therein includes a relatively short boom. An elongated triangular handle is mounted intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movèment about a toggle joint at the outer end of the boom. A front dump bucket is mounted on the lower end of the handle and a sheave is mounted on the upper,end of the handle. One end of a hoist rope 2 I q9208 IIARN9095 .CIP
is fixed to the gantry, and the hoist rope is reeved'around the sheave on the handle and another sheave mounted on the gantry, and the other end of the hoist rope is wound around a hoist drum for pivoting the handle relative to the boom. An electrically powered rope crowd mechanism is connected to the toggle joint at the handle pivot point for imparting a horizontal crowd component in the motion of the bucket. A tilt mechanism is mounted on the handle for tilting the bucket relative to the handle. The tilt mechanism includes a primary link which is pivotally mounted on the handle intermediate the ends of the primary link, a hydraulic assembly which is connected between the posterior end of the primary link and a pin in the outer end of the boom, and a link which is connected between the anterior end of the primary link and the top of the bucket.
A second type of surface mining shovel, commonly referred to as a "hydraulic~ shovel, is typified by the P&H Model 2250 Series A (P&H Mining Equipment; Milwaukee, wisconsin). A
hydraulic shovel includes a frame which is supported on a set of crawler tracks. A machinery house is mounted on the frame and houses hydraulic swing motors and gear drives for revolving the frame on the crawler tracks. The lower end of a short boom is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis. A first set of hydraulic assemblies extends from the frame to the boom for supporting and pivoting the boom relative to the frame. The inner end of a short arm is connected 2 1 9~208 I~ARN9095 .CIP
to the outer end of the boom for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis. A second set of hydraulic assemblies extends from the boom to the arm for supporting and pivoting the arm relative to the boom. A two-part bucket having a door and a body is mounted on the outer end of the arm for pivotal movement about a third horizontal axis. A third set of hydraulic assemblies extends from the arm to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm. A suitable bucket opening mechanism, such as a set of hydraulic assemblies, is connected between the door and body of the bucket for opening the bucket to empty material therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A disadvantage of some electric shovels is that the rack and pinion crowd mechanism is heavy and is relatively expensive to construct and maintain. In particular, maintenance of a rack and pinion crowd mechanism requires considerable specialized training of the maintenance personnel.
An additional disadvantage of electric shovels which have a rack and pinion crowd mechanism is that when crowd force is applied to move the dipper into the earth material, an opposing force is transmitted back to the boom and can cause the boom to pivot back or ~jack~ relative to the frame. Boom jacking can lessen the effectiveness of the hoist mechanism. Boom jacking also creates high stresses on the boom supports, which absorb the 2 1 ~q20~
}IA}W9095 .CIP
force transmitted back through the boom, and on the hoist rope.
Boom jacking can also limit the amount of crowd force which is actually applied to the dipper.
Another disadvantage of electric shovels which have a rack and pinion crowd mechanism is that the location and manner of operation of the crowd mechanism prevents the extension of hydraulic fluid lines from the frame to the dipper to provide hydraulic fluid to hydraulic apparatus which articulates the dipper relative to the dipper handle.
A disadvantage of other electric shovels is that the rope crowd mechanism is relatively complex to construct and expensive to maintain. This is an especial problem when the rope crowd mechanism is designed to apply force in opposite directions.
Another disadvantage of electric shovels is that the boom is supported in a fixed position and cannot be pivoted relative to the frame.
A further disadvantage of electric shovels is that the dipper is rigidly fixed on the dipper handle and cannot be articulated relative to the dipper handle in order to control the attitude of the dipper relative to a bank or the ground for scooping material therefrom. The fixed position of the dipper relative to the handle is a particular problem which causes low fill factors when digging from a low bank or from the low portion of a bank. A related disadvantage of electric shovels is that a relatively long digging stroke is required to fill the dipper, so ~ 992~8 I~ARN9 0 9 5 . C IP
the dipper must be supported by a long handle and boom. The fixed position of the dipper relative to the handle also prevents effective use of the dipper for ground level cleanup, because the dipper cannot be moved in a long horizontal path along the ground for scooping material therefrom without also digging down into the ground. Because of this limitation, an auxiliary piece of equipment, such as a front end loader, is often used for ground level cleanup around an electric shovel. Another disadvantage of the fixed position of the dipper relative to the handle is that the dipper cannot be used to pry or loosen packed material from a bank.
Another disadvantage of electric shovels is that the dipper is very heavy and complex and is expensive to construct and maintain. A related disadvantage is that because the dipper is very heavy, consequently, the shovel as a whole is very heavy.
In particular, the handle and boom must be very large in order to support the dipper. As a result, the shovel requires relatively large counterweights and when swinging is subject to large inertial forces. Accordingly, the components of the swing and drive systems must be very large in order to bear the inertial forces. Another related disadvantage is that the center of mass of the lifting attachment of an electric shovel is far from the centerline of rotation of the frame, so the payload or capacity of the dipper is relatively small in proportion to the weight of the lifting attachment.
~ ~q~
I~ARN9 0 9 5 . CIP
Another disadvantage of electric shovels is that the dipper handle must be supported at a relatively high position on the boom in order to accommodate the long handle and to permit the dipper to clear the side of a waiting truck for emptying the load. A related disadvantage is that the material to be dumped will hang up or remain in the dipper when the dipper is pivoted too low above the truck. Also, it is easy to raise the dipper too high and to dump the material from too far above the truck, and thus to cause significant shock or damage to the truck.
A disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that the lifting attachment, including the boom, arm, bucket and associated hydraulic components, is very heavy, and the weight of the lifting attachment decreases the lifting capacity, upward digging force and/or digging radius of the shovel. The combination of hydraulic components supporting the boom, arm and bucket do not provide dead weight lifting capacity comparable to that provided by the rope hoist of an electric shovel.
Another disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that sufficiently large hydraulic components operating at high pressures have been perceived as being unreliable for high duty cycle applications, such as mining.
Another disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that the front end of the frame can be lifted off the ground when digging by forces transmitted through the arm and boom. The arm and boom 2 ~ 9~208 IIARN9095 .CIP
and associated hydraulic components are rigidly interconnected and transmit shock back to the frame.
An additional disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that the combination of hydraulic components supporting the boom, arm and bucket is relatively complex to operate when digging. The lifting attachment of a hydraulic shovel has three degrees of motion which must be controlled, whereas the lifting attachment of an electric shovel has only two degrees of motion, and accordingly hydraulic shovels are more complex to operate than electric shovels. Further, simultaneous movement of all the hydraulic components is frequently necessary for digging with a hydraulic shovel.
The invention provides a power shovel that does not suffer from the foregoing disadvantages. The power shovel includes a frame and a gantry support which extends upwardly from the frame.
A first rotatable sheave is mounted on the upper end of the gantry support. A short boom extends upwardly from the frame and is mounted for pivotal movement relative thereto. A banana-shaped handle or arm is mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis. A
hydraulic crowd mechanism is connected between the gantry support and the boom and is operable for pivoting the boom relative to the frame. The hydraulic crowd mechanism is connected to the boom at a point which is spaced from the arm pivo~ axis about 1/3 of the distance along the boom. The arm pivot axis is ~ I q9208 }IARN9095 .CIP
intermediate the upper and lower ends of the handle. A second sheave is mounted on the upper end of the arm. A large front dump bucket is mounted adjacent the lower end of the arm for tilting movement relative thereto. A bucket tilting mechanism is connected to the bucket and is operable for tilting the bucket relative to the arm. The bucket tilting mechanism includes a Z-type linkage having an elongated primary link which is pivotally mounted on the arm, a hydraulic assembly which is connected between the first end of the primary link and the arm pivot point, and a secondary link which is connected between the second end of the primary link and the bucket. A hoist mechanism is operable for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis. The hoist mechanism includes a rope which is wound around a hoist drum and which is reeved over the first and second sheaves and fixed to the gantry support.
In operation of the shovel, the operator has the option of penetrating the material with the bucket by operating the hoist mechanism to pivot the arm relative to the boom and move the bucket along a constant radius arcuate path, by operating the hydraulic crowd mechanism to pivot the boom relative to the frame and move the bucket along a substantially linear path, or by operating both the hoist and the hydraulic crowd mechanism in order to move the bucket along an optimal path. After the bucket has penetrated the material, most of the digging and lifting force is provided by operation of the hoist to pivot the arm _g _ 2~ 992~8 relative to the boom. The hydraulic crowd mechanism can be operated simultaneously with the hoist in order to move the bucket in the horizontal direction, especially when digging at ground level near the frame. The bucket can be articulated relative to the arm for efficiently and quickly filling the bucket and for emptying the bucket.
The inventors have recognized that it is sufficient for the hydraulic crowd mechanism and boom to provide a relatively small crowding moment to the arm pivot point in order to cause the bucket to penetrate into the earth material and, accordingly, the boom is very short. Operation of the hoist to pivot the arm relative to the boom provides a large moment to the bucket for penetrating the material. The mass of the boom and arm also contribute to generating crowd force. The hydraulic crowd mechanism serves primarily to pivot the boom and thus to adjust the position of the arm pivot point relative to the frame (i.e., to adjust the digging radius), and to support the boom in a static position relative to the frame during operation of the hoist to pivot the arm for digging.
The power shovel has a hydraulic crowd mechanism and thus does not suffer the disadvantages of constructing and maintaining either a rack and pinion crowd mechanism or a rope crowd mechanism. The hydraulic crowd mechanism is relatively simple light and inexpensive to construct. The hydraulic crowd mechanism also is simple and inexpensive to maintain, ~ ~ 9~208 IIARN9095 .CIP
particularly because the crowd mechanism will be used primarily only for positioning the arm pivot point to adjust the digging radius. The hydraulic crowd mechanism supports the boom relative to the frame and prevents boom jacking. The hydraulic crowd mechanism is connected at a point spaced from the outer end of the boom, and the gantry support which braces the hydraulic crowd mechanism is mounted near the boom, in order to utilize a relatively short hydraulic crowd mechanism and to thus provide adequate operational speed.
The front dump bucket can be articulated relative to the arm for efficiently digging and for quickly filling the bucket with a short digging stroke, for versatility in digging, and for clearing the side of a waiting truck. Accordingly, the arm and boom are not excessively long. The front dump bucket is relatively lightweight, and the arm is mounted or balanced on the boom intermediate the ends thereof, so a large boom is not required for supporting the arm and bucket. The center of mass of the lifting attachment is relatively close to the frame, so the shovel is lighter than an electric shovel having a comparable digging capacity. The shovel requires less counterweight and generates lower inertial forces when swinging than an electric shovel, and also has a lower moment on the boom when the arm is pivoted in the vertical direction, so the drive and swing components can be lighter and less expensive. The lightweight front dump bucket is relatively large. The lightweight front 2 t q9208 dump bucket also is inexpensive to construct and maintain, and the lightweight boom also is relatively inexpensive to construct.
The power shovel includes a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm, so the weight of the hydraulic components does not substantially decrease the lifting capacity, upward digging force or digging radius of the shovel. The hoist mechanism is reliable and provides a lifting capacity which is comparable to an electric shovel. The hoist mechanism also absorbs shock which is transmitted through the arm.
Operation of the power shovel for digging is relatively simple, because the hydraulic crowd mechanism can be operated to position the empty bucket in or near the digging position, and then can be maintained in a static position to support the boom during operation of the hoist mechanism to move and lift the bucket. The operator has the option of operating the hoist mechanism, the hydraulic crowd mechanism or the bucket tilting mechanism, or all simultaneously, in order to penetrate the material. The arm is pivotable through a very wide range of motion for digging at ground level close to the frame or at a position high up a bank and far away from the frame.
objects and advantages other than those set forth above will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, drawings and claims.
2 ~ ~9208 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side view showing a power shovel in an initial position with the boom in an upper position and the arm pivoted down.
Fig. 2 is a side view showing the power shovel in a digging position with the bucket moved horizontally into a bank of material.
Fig. 3 is a side view showing the power shovel in a filled position with the bucket lifted and in phantom lines showing a carrying position.
Fig. 4 is a side view showing the power shovel in a dumping position and in phantom lines showing a carrying position.
Fig. 5 is a partial side view showing the power shovel in the initial position shown in Fig. 1.
Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
~ 1 99208 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Illustrated in the drawings is a power shovel 10 including various features of the invention. The power shovel 10 is adapted for digging into and moving earth material in a surface mining operation.
The power shovel 10 includes a frame 12 which is supported on a set of crawler tracks 14 for movement across the ground between different digging positions. The frame 12 is revolvable on the crawler tracks 14 about a vertical axis. A machinery house 16 is mounted on the frame 12. The machinery house 16 houses electric swing motors (not shown) and gear drives (not shown) for revolving the frame 12 on the crawler tracks 14. The machinery house 16 also houses a hoist drum 18 and an electric motor (not shown) and associated drive gears (not shown) for rotating the hoist drum 18. The machinery house 16 also includes an operator's cab 20. A gantry support 22 extends upwardly from the base of the frame 12.
The power shovel 10 includes a short boom 30 which extends upwardly from the frame 12. The boom 30 has a lower end 32 which is mounted on the frame 12 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal boom pivot axis 34. The boom 30 also has an upper end 36. A horizontal arm pivot axis 38 is located adjacent the upper end 36.
The power shovel 10 includes a hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 which is operable for pivoting the boom 30 relative to the frame ~ ~ ~92~8 IIARN9095 .CIP
12. In a static position, the hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 resists pivotal movement of the boom 30 relative to the frame 12.
The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 thus is operable to support and move the boom 30 relative to the frame 12. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 includes a pair of extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus 41 (one shown). The hydraulic apparatus 41 are identical, and only one will be further described. In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic apparatus 41 is a hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly (hereinafter "hydraulic assembly") having opposite ends. One end of the hydraulic assembly 41 is pivotally connected to the gantry support 22 at a first crowd mounting point 42. The gantry support 22 is mounted on the base of the frame 12 near the boom 30 in order to decrease the length of the hydraulic assembly 41. The piston or other end of the hydraulic assembly 41 is pivotally connected to the boom 30 at a second crowd mounting point 43. The second crowd mounting point 43 is spaced from a line extending through the boom pivot axis 34 and the arm pivot axis 38, such that the boom 30 has a triangular profile (Fig. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the second crowd mounting point 43 is spaced from the arm pivot axis 38 about 1/3 of the distance between the arm pivot axis 38 and the boom pivot axis 34. The location of the second crowd mounting point 43 along the boom 30 establishes that a preselected crowding force is applied to the boom 30 and also provides for a predetermined range of motion.and operational speed of the 2 1 9~208 }IA}~19095 .CIP
hydraulic assembly 41. When the power shovel 10 rests on level ground and the hydraulic assembly 41 is fully contracted, the first and second crowd mounting points 42 and 43 are located at substantially the same vertical height. Accordingly, for providing a predetermined crowd force, the length of the hydraulic assembly 41 is m;n;m; zed and the operational speed of the hydraulic assembly 41 is relatively fast. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 also includes a large hydraulic fluid supply system (not shown~ which has a pump, filters and a fluid reservoir mounted on the frame 12 and connected to the hydraulic assembly 41 via piping and hoses to supply hydraulic fluid thereto.
In another embodiment (not shown), the second crowd mounting point 43 can be located at another suitable point along the boom 30 in order to provide a different crowding force to the boom 30 or a different operational speed of the hydraulic assembly 41.
The boom 30 is pivotable relative to the frame 12 about the boom pivot axis 34 between an upper position (Fig. 1) and a lower position (Fig. 5) respectively corresponding to fully contracted and fully extended conditions of the hydraulic assembly 41. When the power shovel 10 rests on level ground and the boom 30 is in the upper position (Fig. 1), a line extending through the boom pivot axis 34 and the arm pivot axis 38 defines an angle of about 10~ relative to vertical. When the boom 30 is in the lower position (Fig. 5), a line extending through the boom pivot axis ~ ~ 9 ~
I~A~N9095 .CIP
34 and the arm pivot axis 38 defines an angle of about 50~
relative to vertical. In the illustrated embodiment, extension of the hydraulic assembly 41 forces the second crowd mounting point 43 on the boom 30 away from the first crowd mounting point 42 on the gantry support 22, so as to pivot the boom 30 in the downward direction (clockwise as shown in the drawings).
Contraction of the hydraulic assembly 41 draws the second crowd mounting point 43 toward the first crowd mounting point 42, so as to pivot the boom 30 in the upward direction (counterclockwise as shown in the drawings).
The power shovel 10 includes a generally banana-shaped handle or arm 44. The arm 44 is an elongated member having spaced upper and lower ends 46 and 48. The arm 44 is mounted on the upper end 36 of the boom 30 for pivotal movement relative thereto about the arm pivot axis 38 between a pivoted up position (Fig. 3) and a pivoted down position (Fig. 1). As further described below, the arm 44 is pivotable such that the lower end 48 is highest when the arm 44 is pivoted up and is lowest when the arm 44 is pivoted down. The arm pivot axis 38 is intermediate the upper and lower ends 46 and 48 and is spaced in the direction of the frame 12 from a line extending through the upper and lower ends 46 and 48. More particularly, when the power shovel rests on level ground and the crowd mechanism 40 is fully contracted such that the boom 30 is in the corresponding upper position, the arm pivot axis 38 is located in a vertical 2 ~ q9208 IIARN9095 .CIP
plane which extends through the crawler tracks 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm 44 is a fabricated structure having a box-type cross sectional configuration.
The power shovel 10 includes a digging tool 52 mounted on the arm 44 adjacent the lower end 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the digging tool 52 is a front dump bucket 52. In another embodiment (not shown), the power shovel may include another suitable digging tool such as, for example, a dipper.
The front dump bucket 52 is mounted on the arm 44 adjacent the lower end 48 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis 54. The bucket 52 has (see Fig. 1) a lower wall 56, an upper wall 58 which is spaced from the lower wall 56, and a back wall 60 joining the lower and upper walls 56 and 58. The bucket 52 also includes a pair of side walls 62 (one shown) which are perpendicular to and which connect with the lower, upper and back walls 56, 58 and 60. Forward edges of the lower wall 56, upper wall 58, and side walls 62 cooperate to define an open mouth 64. A set of digging teeth 65 extend outwardly from the lower wall 56 along the lower portion of the mouth 64. The mouth 64 is spaced from the back wall 60 for scooping earth material into and for emptying earth material from the bucket.
The power shovel 10 includes a bucket tilting mechanism 66 which is connected to the bucket 52 for tilting the bucket 52 relative to the arm 44 about the bucket pivot axis 54. More particularly, the bucket tilting mechanism 66 includes (see ' ~ ~ 99208 IIARN9095 .CIP
Fig. 1) a pair of Z-type linkages 68 (one shown) mounted on opposite sides of the arm 44. The Z-type linkages 68 are identical, and only one will be further described. The Z-type linkage 68 includes an elongated primary link 70 having opposite first and second ends 72 and 74. More particularly, when the arm 44 is pivoted down, as shown in Fig. 1, the first end 72 is above the second end 74. The primary link 70 is mounted on the arm 44 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot point 76 which is located between the first and second ends 72 and 74.
The pivot point 76 is located on the forward edge of the arm 44 (the right edge in Fig. 1) at a location intermediate the arm pivot axis 38 and lower end 48. The primary link 70 is sufficiently short that when pivoted about the pivot point 76, the ends 72 and 74 never extend below or inside the rear edge of the arm 44 (the left edge in Fig. 1). The Z-type linkage 68 also includes an elongated secondary link 78. The secondary link 78 has a first end 80 which is pivotally connected to the second end 74 of the primary link 70. The secondary link 78 has a second end 82 which is pivotally connected to the bucket 52 at a point 84 spaced from the bucket pivot axis 54. The Z-type linkage 68 also includes an extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic apparatus 86 is a hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly (hereinafter "hydraulic assembly") having opposite ends. One end of the hydraulic assembly 86 is pivotally connected to the first end 72 of the ~ ~ ~ 99208 ~IARN9095 .CIP
primary link 70. The piston or other end of the hydraulic assembly 86 is pivotally connected to the arm pivot axis 38.
The hydraulic assembly 86 is operable to pivot the primary link 70 so as to tilt the bucket 52 relative to the arm 44 between an upwardly tilted position (Fig. 1) and a downwardly tilted position (Fig. 5). More particularly, when the hydraulic assembly 86 is extended (Fig. 1), the Z-type linkage 68 is operable to tilt the bucket 52 to the upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material in the bucket 52. When the hydraulic assembly 86 is contracted (Fig. 5), the Z-type linkage 68 is operable to tilt the bucket 52 to the downwardly tilted position for dumping earth material from the bucket 52.
When the bucket 52 is tilted to the downwardly tilted position (Fig. 5), the bucket 52 engages a stop 89 on the lower end 48 of the arm 44 so as to decrease the load on the tilting mechanism 66.
The power shovel 10 includes a hoist mechanism 90 which is operable for pivoting the arm 44 relative to the boom 30 about the arm pivot axis 38 for moving and lifting the bucket 52. More particularly, the hoist mechanism 90 includes the hoist drum 18 and a rope 92 which is windable on to and off of the hoist drum 18. The hoist mechanism 90 also includes a first sheave 94 rotatably mounted on the upper end of the gantry support 22, and a second sheave 96 rotatably mounted on the upper end 48 of the arm 44 at a mounting point 98. The rope 92 is reeved over the 2 ~ 992~
sheaves 94 and 96 and is fixed to the gantry support 22 at the end opposite the hoist drum 18. The hoist drum 18 is rotatable in one direction for winding the rope 92 on to the drum to pivot the arm 44 upwardly (counterclockwise in Fig. 1) for lifting the bucket 52. The hoist drum 18 is rotatable in the opposite direction for unwinding the rope 92 off the drum to pivot the arm 44 downwardly (clockwise in Fig. 1) for lowering the bucket 52.
In particular, when the rope 92 is unwound off the hoist drum 18, the weight of the arm 44 causes the arm 44 to pivot downwardly about the arm pivot point 38. The size of the arm 44, and particularly the distance between the second sheave 96 and the boom pivot axis 38, is predetermined so that operation of the hoist mechanism 90 to pivot the arm 44 upwardly provides a pre-selected digging force to move the bucket 52 into the earth material. The hoist mechanism 90 can àlso be operated simultaneously with the hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 to provide a greater digging force to the bucket 52 than provided solely by operation of the hoist mechanism 90.
The arm pivot axis 38, the sheave mounting point 98 and the bucket pivot axis 54 define a triangle. More particularly, a line segment A (Fig. 6) extending between the arm pivot axis 38 and the sheave mounting point 98 and a line segment B extending between the sheave mounting point 98 and the bucket pivot axis 54 define an angle of about 40~. The line segment B and a line segment C extending between the bucket pivot axis 54 and the arm 2 1 9920~
~ARN9095 . CIP
pivot axis 38 define an angle of about 30~. The line segments A
and C define an angle of about 110~.
When the boom 30 is in the upper position and the arm 44 is in the pivoted down position (Figs. 1 and 6), the line segment C
defines an angle D (Fig. 6) of about 15~ relative to vertical.
Accordingly, the bucket 52 can be positioned to dig very near the frame 12 near ground level. When the arm 44 is in the pivoted down position as shown in Fig. 1, the upper end 46 is spaced from the arm pivot axis 38 in the direction away from the frame 12.
The shape of the upper end 46 permits the arm 44 to be pivoted upwardly from the pivoted down position through a range of motion of at least about 100~, to the pivoted up position (Fig. 5) in which the line segment C (not shown in Fig. 5) defines an angle of at least about 115~ relative to vertical. Further, when the arm 44 is in the pivoted down position, the lower end 48 is spaced from the arm pivot axis 38 in the direction away from the frame 12. The shape of the lower end 48 of the arm 44, and particularly the location of the bucket pivot axis 54 in relation to the arm pivot axis 38, ensures that the bucket 52 can dig at positions which are high up a bank by pivoting the arm 44. The shape of the arm 44 thus provides a very large digging area, especially in the vertical direction.
The shape of the arm 44 also causes the center of gravity of the arm 44 to be located near the arm pivot axis 38 and thus near the frame 12. Accordingly, the hoist mechanism 90 is required to 2 1 ~9208 IIARN9095 .CIP
do relatively little work for pivoting the arm 44 upwardly. The shape of the upper end 46 of the arm 44, and particularly the location of the sheave mounting axis 98 in relation to the arm pivot axis 38, ensures effectiveness of the hoist mechanism 90 for pivoting the arm 44, because appropriate moments are obtained in all positions of the arm 44. The location of the bucket pivot axis 54 in relation to the arm pivot axis 38 also establishes an appropriate orientation of the bucket 52 when raised for emptying material therefrom. The shape of the lower end 46 of the arm 44 also ensures that the Z-type linkage 68 will not extend rearward or below the arm 44 and thus will not be damaged when digging or emptying material from the bucket 52.
Although the shovel 10 can be operated in any suitable manner, an exemplary mode of operation will now be described.
The power shovel 10 is initially moved by operation of the crawler tracks 14 to a desired stationary digging location on level ground adjacent an upwardly extending bank of earth material. The power shovel 10 typically will remain in the same digging location for a period of about an hour or more, digging from the bank in a wedge-shaped digging region (as viewed from above), before again being moved on the crawler tracks 14 to an adjacent digging location. As shown in Fig. 1, digging ordinarily will commence at ground level from the lower portion of the bank. In an initial position of the bucket 52 (Fig. 1), the crowd mechanism 40 is contracted and the boom 30 is in the ~ 2 1 ~920~
~iARN9095 .CIP
upper position, the arm 44 is pivoted down, and the bucket 52 is in the upwardly tilted position with the digging teeth 65 extending horizontally. From the initial position (Fig. 1), the bucket 52 is moved in the horizontal direction to a second or digging position (Fig. 2) in the earth material by extending the crowd mechanism 40 to pivot the boom 30 downwardly about the boom pivot point 34 from the upper position to an intermediate position, and by slightly contracting the hydraulic apparatus 86 to maintain the bucket 52 in a relatively constant attitude with the digging teeth 65 extending horizontally for cutting through the earth material. secause the hoist mechanism 90 is maintained in t~e same condition from the initial position (Fig. 1) to the digging position (Fig. 2), the angle or position of the arm 44 relative to the boom 30 changes from the initial position (Fig.
1) to the digging position (Fig. 2). Accordingly, the hydraulic apparatus 86 must be slightly contracted in order to maintain the bucket 52 in a relatively constant attitude with the digging teeth 65 extending horizontally.
From the digging position (Fig. 2) the bucket 52 is moved through the earth material to a third or filled position (solid lines in Fig. 3) by operating the hoist mechanism 92 to pivot the arm 44 upwardly about the arm pivot axis 38. Because the bucket tilting mechanism 66 is connected to the arm pivot axis 38, the bucket 52 r~m~; ns in a fixed tilt position in relation to the arm 2 J 99~
44 while the arm 44 is pivoted upwardly without operating the bucket tilting mechanism 66.
From the filled position (solid lines in Fig. 3) the bucket 52 is tilted up relative to the arm 44 to a fourth or carrying position (phantom lines in Fig. 3) in which the earth material is retained in the bucket 52. In order to move the bucket 52 from the filled position (solid lines in Fig. 3) to the carrying position (phantom lines in Fig. 3), the bucket tilting mechanism 66 is operated to tilt the bucket 52 upwardly about the bucket pivot axis 54. With the bucket 52 in the carrying position, the frame 12 is pivoted relative to the crawler tracks 14 to swing the bucket 52 from a position above the digging area to a position above a truck (Fig. 4). In order to provide a desirable orientation of the bucket 52 for readily dumping the material into the truck, the crowd mechanism 40 is contracted to pivot the boom 30 to the upper position, with the bucket 52 r~m~;n;ng generally in the carrying position (phantom lines in Fig. 4).
With the bucket 52 positioned over the truck in the carrying position, the bucket tilting mechanism 66 is operated to tilt the bucket 52 downwardly relative to the arm 44 to a dumping position (solid lines in Fig. 4) wherein the mouth 64 opens downwardly for emptying the earth material from the bucket 52 and into the truck. As shown in Fig. 4, the location and orientation of the Z-type linkage 68 on the arm 44 prevents the Z-type linkage 68 i~ARN9095 .CIP
from extending below the arm 44 and contacting the side wall of the truck and from being damaged thereby.
The power shovel 10 weighs much less than an electric shovel having a comparable dipper capacity and digging radius. For example, a power shovel 10 weighing about 1,600,000 lbs. can have a bucket capacity (about 46 cubic yards) and digging radius (about feet) comparable to an electric shovel weighing about 1,900,000 lbs.
The arm 44 can be pivoted relative to the boom 30, and the boom 30 also can be pivoted relative to the frame 12, for the bucket 52 to reach a large digging area. The bucket 52 can be articulated relative to the arm 44 for efficiently digging and for quickly filling the bucket 52 with a short digging stroke.
The bucket 52 also can be articulated for digging in the lower portion of a bank with a high fill factor. The bucket 52 can be moved in the horizontal direction along the ground and articulated relative to the arm 44 for scooping material from the ground, without also digging down into the ground. This eliminates the need for an additional piece of equipment, such as a front end loader, for ground cleanup around the power shovel 10. The bucket 52 is lightweight and of relatively simple design, and accordingly is inexpensive to construct and maintain.
The boom 30 is short and lightweight. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the boom 30 between the arm pivot axis 38 and the boom pivot axis 34 is less than the length of the line -- ~ ~ 99208 segment C (Fig. 6) extending between the arm pivot axis 38 and the bucket pivot axis 54, and also is less than about half the length of the line segment A extending between the upper and lower ends 46 and 48 of the arm 44. The lightweight boom 30 is simple and inexpensive to construct and maintain.
The lifting attachment is relatively lightweight, and the center of mass of the lifting attachment is relatively close to the centerline of rotation of the frame 12. This is because, in addition to the bucket 52 being lightweight and the boom 30 being short and lightweight, the arm pivot axis 38 is located intermediate the ends of the arm 44, so the center of mass of the arm is near the arm pivot axis 38. The inertial force generated by rotating the frame 12 relative to the crawler tracks 14 to swing the bucket 52 over a truck is relatively low, and the moment on the boom 30 when pivoting the arm 44 in the vertical direction also is relatively low. Accordingly, swing and drive components are relatively lightweight.
The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 is relatively simple to construct and is simple and inexpensive to maintain. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 is short and is capable of relatively fast operation.
The power shovel 10 has a greater lifting capacity than a comparable hydraulic shovel. The bucket 52 is lifted primarily by operating the hoist mechanism 90 to pivot the arm 44. By operating the hoist mechanism 90 to pivot the arm 44, the bucket ~ 9 2 0 8 i3AP~N9095 .CIP
52 can be moved along a long horizontal path for scooping material near ground level, or along an upward path for scooping material from a bank or emptying material into a truck. The hoist mechanism 90 is a relatively reliable means of moving and lifting the bucket 52. The hoist mechanism 90 also absorbs shock which is transmitted through the arm 44. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 ordinarily can be operated to position the empty bucket 52 in or near the digging position, and then maintained in a static position to support the boom 30 during operation of the hoist mechanism 90 to move and lift the bucket 52.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application serial no. 08/237,955, filed May 3, 1994, which is incorporated herein by reference and which is a continuation-in-part of application serial no. 07/803,839, filed December 9, 1991, now abandoned.
BA~KGROUND OF THE INVENTIQN
Field of the Invention The invention relates to surface mining shovels.
Discussion of Prior Art The most common type of surface mining shovel, usually referred to as an "electric" shovel, is typified by the P&H Model 4100 (P&H Mining Equipment; Milwaukee, Wisconsin). An electric shovel includes a frame which is supported on a set of crawler tracks for movement across the ground. A machinery house is mounted on the frame and houses electric swing motors and gear drives for revolving the frame on the crawler tracks. The machinery house also houses a hoist drum and an associated electric motor and drive gears for rotating the hoist drum. An operator's cab is mounted on the machinery house. A gantry support extends upwardly from the frame. The lower end of a long ~ i 99208 IIA}IN9095 .CIP
fixed boom is mounted on the frame, and boom supports extend from the gantry support to the outer end of the boom for supporting the boom in a fixed position relative to the frame. A sheave is mounted on the outer end of the boom. A rack and pinion crowd mechanism is supported on the boom at a position intermediate the ends of the boom. The crowd mechanism supports the inner portion of an elongated dipper handle for translational movement relative to the boom. The crowd mechanism is driven by electric motors and is operable for translating or crowding the dipper handle relative to the boom in the direction along the longitudinal axis of the dipper handle. A two-part dipper, including a body and a door, is rigidly mounted on the outer end of the dipper handle.
A hoist rope is connected to the dipper, is reeved over the sheave and is wound around the hoist drum for raising and lowering the dipper. A control mechanism such as a pull rope is connected from the operator~s cab to the dipper for opening a catch to permit the door o~ the dipper to swing open by gravity for emptying earth material from the dipper.
A variation of an electric shovel is disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,465,903 to Wilson. The shovel disclosed therein includes a relatively short boom. An elongated triangular handle is mounted intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movèment about a toggle joint at the outer end of the boom. A front dump bucket is mounted on the lower end of the handle and a sheave is mounted on the upper,end of the handle. One end of a hoist rope 2 I q9208 IIARN9095 .CIP
is fixed to the gantry, and the hoist rope is reeved'around the sheave on the handle and another sheave mounted on the gantry, and the other end of the hoist rope is wound around a hoist drum for pivoting the handle relative to the boom. An electrically powered rope crowd mechanism is connected to the toggle joint at the handle pivot point for imparting a horizontal crowd component in the motion of the bucket. A tilt mechanism is mounted on the handle for tilting the bucket relative to the handle. The tilt mechanism includes a primary link which is pivotally mounted on the handle intermediate the ends of the primary link, a hydraulic assembly which is connected between the posterior end of the primary link and a pin in the outer end of the boom, and a link which is connected between the anterior end of the primary link and the top of the bucket.
A second type of surface mining shovel, commonly referred to as a "hydraulic~ shovel, is typified by the P&H Model 2250 Series A (P&H Mining Equipment; Milwaukee, wisconsin). A
hydraulic shovel includes a frame which is supported on a set of crawler tracks. A machinery house is mounted on the frame and houses hydraulic swing motors and gear drives for revolving the frame on the crawler tracks. The lower end of a short boom is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis. A first set of hydraulic assemblies extends from the frame to the boom for supporting and pivoting the boom relative to the frame. The inner end of a short arm is connected 2 1 9~208 I~ARN9095 .CIP
to the outer end of the boom for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis. A second set of hydraulic assemblies extends from the boom to the arm for supporting and pivoting the arm relative to the boom. A two-part bucket having a door and a body is mounted on the outer end of the arm for pivotal movement about a third horizontal axis. A third set of hydraulic assemblies extends from the arm to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm. A suitable bucket opening mechanism, such as a set of hydraulic assemblies, is connected between the door and body of the bucket for opening the bucket to empty material therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A disadvantage of some electric shovels is that the rack and pinion crowd mechanism is heavy and is relatively expensive to construct and maintain. In particular, maintenance of a rack and pinion crowd mechanism requires considerable specialized training of the maintenance personnel.
An additional disadvantage of electric shovels which have a rack and pinion crowd mechanism is that when crowd force is applied to move the dipper into the earth material, an opposing force is transmitted back to the boom and can cause the boom to pivot back or ~jack~ relative to the frame. Boom jacking can lessen the effectiveness of the hoist mechanism. Boom jacking also creates high stresses on the boom supports, which absorb the 2 1 ~q20~
}IA}W9095 .CIP
force transmitted back through the boom, and on the hoist rope.
Boom jacking can also limit the amount of crowd force which is actually applied to the dipper.
Another disadvantage of electric shovels which have a rack and pinion crowd mechanism is that the location and manner of operation of the crowd mechanism prevents the extension of hydraulic fluid lines from the frame to the dipper to provide hydraulic fluid to hydraulic apparatus which articulates the dipper relative to the dipper handle.
A disadvantage of other electric shovels is that the rope crowd mechanism is relatively complex to construct and expensive to maintain. This is an especial problem when the rope crowd mechanism is designed to apply force in opposite directions.
Another disadvantage of electric shovels is that the boom is supported in a fixed position and cannot be pivoted relative to the frame.
A further disadvantage of electric shovels is that the dipper is rigidly fixed on the dipper handle and cannot be articulated relative to the dipper handle in order to control the attitude of the dipper relative to a bank or the ground for scooping material therefrom. The fixed position of the dipper relative to the handle is a particular problem which causes low fill factors when digging from a low bank or from the low portion of a bank. A related disadvantage of electric shovels is that a relatively long digging stroke is required to fill the dipper, so ~ 992~8 I~ARN9 0 9 5 . C IP
the dipper must be supported by a long handle and boom. The fixed position of the dipper relative to the handle also prevents effective use of the dipper for ground level cleanup, because the dipper cannot be moved in a long horizontal path along the ground for scooping material therefrom without also digging down into the ground. Because of this limitation, an auxiliary piece of equipment, such as a front end loader, is often used for ground level cleanup around an electric shovel. Another disadvantage of the fixed position of the dipper relative to the handle is that the dipper cannot be used to pry or loosen packed material from a bank.
Another disadvantage of electric shovels is that the dipper is very heavy and complex and is expensive to construct and maintain. A related disadvantage is that because the dipper is very heavy, consequently, the shovel as a whole is very heavy.
In particular, the handle and boom must be very large in order to support the dipper. As a result, the shovel requires relatively large counterweights and when swinging is subject to large inertial forces. Accordingly, the components of the swing and drive systems must be very large in order to bear the inertial forces. Another related disadvantage is that the center of mass of the lifting attachment of an electric shovel is far from the centerline of rotation of the frame, so the payload or capacity of the dipper is relatively small in proportion to the weight of the lifting attachment.
~ ~q~
I~ARN9 0 9 5 . CIP
Another disadvantage of electric shovels is that the dipper handle must be supported at a relatively high position on the boom in order to accommodate the long handle and to permit the dipper to clear the side of a waiting truck for emptying the load. A related disadvantage is that the material to be dumped will hang up or remain in the dipper when the dipper is pivoted too low above the truck. Also, it is easy to raise the dipper too high and to dump the material from too far above the truck, and thus to cause significant shock or damage to the truck.
A disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that the lifting attachment, including the boom, arm, bucket and associated hydraulic components, is very heavy, and the weight of the lifting attachment decreases the lifting capacity, upward digging force and/or digging radius of the shovel. The combination of hydraulic components supporting the boom, arm and bucket do not provide dead weight lifting capacity comparable to that provided by the rope hoist of an electric shovel.
Another disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that sufficiently large hydraulic components operating at high pressures have been perceived as being unreliable for high duty cycle applications, such as mining.
Another disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that the front end of the frame can be lifted off the ground when digging by forces transmitted through the arm and boom. The arm and boom 2 ~ 9~208 IIARN9095 .CIP
and associated hydraulic components are rigidly interconnected and transmit shock back to the frame.
An additional disadvantage of hydraulic shovels is that the combination of hydraulic components supporting the boom, arm and bucket is relatively complex to operate when digging. The lifting attachment of a hydraulic shovel has three degrees of motion which must be controlled, whereas the lifting attachment of an electric shovel has only two degrees of motion, and accordingly hydraulic shovels are more complex to operate than electric shovels. Further, simultaneous movement of all the hydraulic components is frequently necessary for digging with a hydraulic shovel.
The invention provides a power shovel that does not suffer from the foregoing disadvantages. The power shovel includes a frame and a gantry support which extends upwardly from the frame.
A first rotatable sheave is mounted on the upper end of the gantry support. A short boom extends upwardly from the frame and is mounted for pivotal movement relative thereto. A banana-shaped handle or arm is mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis. A
hydraulic crowd mechanism is connected between the gantry support and the boom and is operable for pivoting the boom relative to the frame. The hydraulic crowd mechanism is connected to the boom at a point which is spaced from the arm pivo~ axis about 1/3 of the distance along the boom. The arm pivot axis is ~ I q9208 }IARN9095 .CIP
intermediate the upper and lower ends of the handle. A second sheave is mounted on the upper end of the arm. A large front dump bucket is mounted adjacent the lower end of the arm for tilting movement relative thereto. A bucket tilting mechanism is connected to the bucket and is operable for tilting the bucket relative to the arm. The bucket tilting mechanism includes a Z-type linkage having an elongated primary link which is pivotally mounted on the arm, a hydraulic assembly which is connected between the first end of the primary link and the arm pivot point, and a secondary link which is connected between the second end of the primary link and the bucket. A hoist mechanism is operable for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis. The hoist mechanism includes a rope which is wound around a hoist drum and which is reeved over the first and second sheaves and fixed to the gantry support.
In operation of the shovel, the operator has the option of penetrating the material with the bucket by operating the hoist mechanism to pivot the arm relative to the boom and move the bucket along a constant radius arcuate path, by operating the hydraulic crowd mechanism to pivot the boom relative to the frame and move the bucket along a substantially linear path, or by operating both the hoist and the hydraulic crowd mechanism in order to move the bucket along an optimal path. After the bucket has penetrated the material, most of the digging and lifting force is provided by operation of the hoist to pivot the arm _g _ 2~ 992~8 relative to the boom. The hydraulic crowd mechanism can be operated simultaneously with the hoist in order to move the bucket in the horizontal direction, especially when digging at ground level near the frame. The bucket can be articulated relative to the arm for efficiently and quickly filling the bucket and for emptying the bucket.
The inventors have recognized that it is sufficient for the hydraulic crowd mechanism and boom to provide a relatively small crowding moment to the arm pivot point in order to cause the bucket to penetrate into the earth material and, accordingly, the boom is very short. Operation of the hoist to pivot the arm relative to the boom provides a large moment to the bucket for penetrating the material. The mass of the boom and arm also contribute to generating crowd force. The hydraulic crowd mechanism serves primarily to pivot the boom and thus to adjust the position of the arm pivot point relative to the frame (i.e., to adjust the digging radius), and to support the boom in a static position relative to the frame during operation of the hoist to pivot the arm for digging.
The power shovel has a hydraulic crowd mechanism and thus does not suffer the disadvantages of constructing and maintaining either a rack and pinion crowd mechanism or a rope crowd mechanism. The hydraulic crowd mechanism is relatively simple light and inexpensive to construct. The hydraulic crowd mechanism also is simple and inexpensive to maintain, ~ ~ 9~208 IIARN9095 .CIP
particularly because the crowd mechanism will be used primarily only for positioning the arm pivot point to adjust the digging radius. The hydraulic crowd mechanism supports the boom relative to the frame and prevents boom jacking. The hydraulic crowd mechanism is connected at a point spaced from the outer end of the boom, and the gantry support which braces the hydraulic crowd mechanism is mounted near the boom, in order to utilize a relatively short hydraulic crowd mechanism and to thus provide adequate operational speed.
The front dump bucket can be articulated relative to the arm for efficiently digging and for quickly filling the bucket with a short digging stroke, for versatility in digging, and for clearing the side of a waiting truck. Accordingly, the arm and boom are not excessively long. The front dump bucket is relatively lightweight, and the arm is mounted or balanced on the boom intermediate the ends thereof, so a large boom is not required for supporting the arm and bucket. The center of mass of the lifting attachment is relatively close to the frame, so the shovel is lighter than an electric shovel having a comparable digging capacity. The shovel requires less counterweight and generates lower inertial forces when swinging than an electric shovel, and also has a lower moment on the boom when the arm is pivoted in the vertical direction, so the drive and swing components can be lighter and less expensive. The lightweight front dump bucket is relatively large. The lightweight front 2 t q9208 dump bucket also is inexpensive to construct and maintain, and the lightweight boom also is relatively inexpensive to construct.
The power shovel includes a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm, so the weight of the hydraulic components does not substantially decrease the lifting capacity, upward digging force or digging radius of the shovel. The hoist mechanism is reliable and provides a lifting capacity which is comparable to an electric shovel. The hoist mechanism also absorbs shock which is transmitted through the arm.
Operation of the power shovel for digging is relatively simple, because the hydraulic crowd mechanism can be operated to position the empty bucket in or near the digging position, and then can be maintained in a static position to support the boom during operation of the hoist mechanism to move and lift the bucket. The operator has the option of operating the hoist mechanism, the hydraulic crowd mechanism or the bucket tilting mechanism, or all simultaneously, in order to penetrate the material. The arm is pivotable through a very wide range of motion for digging at ground level close to the frame or at a position high up a bank and far away from the frame.
objects and advantages other than those set forth above will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, drawings and claims.
2 ~ ~9208 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side view showing a power shovel in an initial position with the boom in an upper position and the arm pivoted down.
Fig. 2 is a side view showing the power shovel in a digging position with the bucket moved horizontally into a bank of material.
Fig. 3 is a side view showing the power shovel in a filled position with the bucket lifted and in phantom lines showing a carrying position.
Fig. 4 is a side view showing the power shovel in a dumping position and in phantom lines showing a carrying position.
Fig. 5 is a partial side view showing the power shovel in the initial position shown in Fig. 1.
Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
~ 1 99208 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Illustrated in the drawings is a power shovel 10 including various features of the invention. The power shovel 10 is adapted for digging into and moving earth material in a surface mining operation.
The power shovel 10 includes a frame 12 which is supported on a set of crawler tracks 14 for movement across the ground between different digging positions. The frame 12 is revolvable on the crawler tracks 14 about a vertical axis. A machinery house 16 is mounted on the frame 12. The machinery house 16 houses electric swing motors (not shown) and gear drives (not shown) for revolving the frame 12 on the crawler tracks 14. The machinery house 16 also houses a hoist drum 18 and an electric motor (not shown) and associated drive gears (not shown) for rotating the hoist drum 18. The machinery house 16 also includes an operator's cab 20. A gantry support 22 extends upwardly from the base of the frame 12.
The power shovel 10 includes a short boom 30 which extends upwardly from the frame 12. The boom 30 has a lower end 32 which is mounted on the frame 12 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal boom pivot axis 34. The boom 30 also has an upper end 36. A horizontal arm pivot axis 38 is located adjacent the upper end 36.
The power shovel 10 includes a hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 which is operable for pivoting the boom 30 relative to the frame ~ ~ ~92~8 IIARN9095 .CIP
12. In a static position, the hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 resists pivotal movement of the boom 30 relative to the frame 12.
The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 thus is operable to support and move the boom 30 relative to the frame 12. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 includes a pair of extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus 41 (one shown). The hydraulic apparatus 41 are identical, and only one will be further described. In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic apparatus 41 is a hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly (hereinafter "hydraulic assembly") having opposite ends. One end of the hydraulic assembly 41 is pivotally connected to the gantry support 22 at a first crowd mounting point 42. The gantry support 22 is mounted on the base of the frame 12 near the boom 30 in order to decrease the length of the hydraulic assembly 41. The piston or other end of the hydraulic assembly 41 is pivotally connected to the boom 30 at a second crowd mounting point 43. The second crowd mounting point 43 is spaced from a line extending through the boom pivot axis 34 and the arm pivot axis 38, such that the boom 30 has a triangular profile (Fig. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the second crowd mounting point 43 is spaced from the arm pivot axis 38 about 1/3 of the distance between the arm pivot axis 38 and the boom pivot axis 34. The location of the second crowd mounting point 43 along the boom 30 establishes that a preselected crowding force is applied to the boom 30 and also provides for a predetermined range of motion.and operational speed of the 2 1 9~208 }IA}~19095 .CIP
hydraulic assembly 41. When the power shovel 10 rests on level ground and the hydraulic assembly 41 is fully contracted, the first and second crowd mounting points 42 and 43 are located at substantially the same vertical height. Accordingly, for providing a predetermined crowd force, the length of the hydraulic assembly 41 is m;n;m; zed and the operational speed of the hydraulic assembly 41 is relatively fast. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 also includes a large hydraulic fluid supply system (not shown~ which has a pump, filters and a fluid reservoir mounted on the frame 12 and connected to the hydraulic assembly 41 via piping and hoses to supply hydraulic fluid thereto.
In another embodiment (not shown), the second crowd mounting point 43 can be located at another suitable point along the boom 30 in order to provide a different crowding force to the boom 30 or a different operational speed of the hydraulic assembly 41.
The boom 30 is pivotable relative to the frame 12 about the boom pivot axis 34 between an upper position (Fig. 1) and a lower position (Fig. 5) respectively corresponding to fully contracted and fully extended conditions of the hydraulic assembly 41. When the power shovel 10 rests on level ground and the boom 30 is in the upper position (Fig. 1), a line extending through the boom pivot axis 34 and the arm pivot axis 38 defines an angle of about 10~ relative to vertical. When the boom 30 is in the lower position (Fig. 5), a line extending through the boom pivot axis ~ ~ 9 ~
I~A~N9095 .CIP
34 and the arm pivot axis 38 defines an angle of about 50~
relative to vertical. In the illustrated embodiment, extension of the hydraulic assembly 41 forces the second crowd mounting point 43 on the boom 30 away from the first crowd mounting point 42 on the gantry support 22, so as to pivot the boom 30 in the downward direction (clockwise as shown in the drawings).
Contraction of the hydraulic assembly 41 draws the second crowd mounting point 43 toward the first crowd mounting point 42, so as to pivot the boom 30 in the upward direction (counterclockwise as shown in the drawings).
The power shovel 10 includes a generally banana-shaped handle or arm 44. The arm 44 is an elongated member having spaced upper and lower ends 46 and 48. The arm 44 is mounted on the upper end 36 of the boom 30 for pivotal movement relative thereto about the arm pivot axis 38 between a pivoted up position (Fig. 3) and a pivoted down position (Fig. 1). As further described below, the arm 44 is pivotable such that the lower end 48 is highest when the arm 44 is pivoted up and is lowest when the arm 44 is pivoted down. The arm pivot axis 38 is intermediate the upper and lower ends 46 and 48 and is spaced in the direction of the frame 12 from a line extending through the upper and lower ends 46 and 48. More particularly, when the power shovel rests on level ground and the crowd mechanism 40 is fully contracted such that the boom 30 is in the corresponding upper position, the arm pivot axis 38 is located in a vertical 2 ~ q9208 IIARN9095 .CIP
plane which extends through the crawler tracks 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm 44 is a fabricated structure having a box-type cross sectional configuration.
The power shovel 10 includes a digging tool 52 mounted on the arm 44 adjacent the lower end 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the digging tool 52 is a front dump bucket 52. In another embodiment (not shown), the power shovel may include another suitable digging tool such as, for example, a dipper.
The front dump bucket 52 is mounted on the arm 44 adjacent the lower end 48 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis 54. The bucket 52 has (see Fig. 1) a lower wall 56, an upper wall 58 which is spaced from the lower wall 56, and a back wall 60 joining the lower and upper walls 56 and 58. The bucket 52 also includes a pair of side walls 62 (one shown) which are perpendicular to and which connect with the lower, upper and back walls 56, 58 and 60. Forward edges of the lower wall 56, upper wall 58, and side walls 62 cooperate to define an open mouth 64. A set of digging teeth 65 extend outwardly from the lower wall 56 along the lower portion of the mouth 64. The mouth 64 is spaced from the back wall 60 for scooping earth material into and for emptying earth material from the bucket.
The power shovel 10 includes a bucket tilting mechanism 66 which is connected to the bucket 52 for tilting the bucket 52 relative to the arm 44 about the bucket pivot axis 54. More particularly, the bucket tilting mechanism 66 includes (see ' ~ ~ 99208 IIARN9095 .CIP
Fig. 1) a pair of Z-type linkages 68 (one shown) mounted on opposite sides of the arm 44. The Z-type linkages 68 are identical, and only one will be further described. The Z-type linkage 68 includes an elongated primary link 70 having opposite first and second ends 72 and 74. More particularly, when the arm 44 is pivoted down, as shown in Fig. 1, the first end 72 is above the second end 74. The primary link 70 is mounted on the arm 44 for pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot point 76 which is located between the first and second ends 72 and 74.
The pivot point 76 is located on the forward edge of the arm 44 (the right edge in Fig. 1) at a location intermediate the arm pivot axis 38 and lower end 48. The primary link 70 is sufficiently short that when pivoted about the pivot point 76, the ends 72 and 74 never extend below or inside the rear edge of the arm 44 (the left edge in Fig. 1). The Z-type linkage 68 also includes an elongated secondary link 78. The secondary link 78 has a first end 80 which is pivotally connected to the second end 74 of the primary link 70. The secondary link 78 has a second end 82 which is pivotally connected to the bucket 52 at a point 84 spaced from the bucket pivot axis 54. The Z-type linkage 68 also includes an extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic apparatus 86 is a hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly (hereinafter "hydraulic assembly") having opposite ends. One end of the hydraulic assembly 86 is pivotally connected to the first end 72 of the ~ ~ ~ 99208 ~IARN9095 .CIP
primary link 70. The piston or other end of the hydraulic assembly 86 is pivotally connected to the arm pivot axis 38.
The hydraulic assembly 86 is operable to pivot the primary link 70 so as to tilt the bucket 52 relative to the arm 44 between an upwardly tilted position (Fig. 1) and a downwardly tilted position (Fig. 5). More particularly, when the hydraulic assembly 86 is extended (Fig. 1), the Z-type linkage 68 is operable to tilt the bucket 52 to the upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material in the bucket 52. When the hydraulic assembly 86 is contracted (Fig. 5), the Z-type linkage 68 is operable to tilt the bucket 52 to the downwardly tilted position for dumping earth material from the bucket 52.
When the bucket 52 is tilted to the downwardly tilted position (Fig. 5), the bucket 52 engages a stop 89 on the lower end 48 of the arm 44 so as to decrease the load on the tilting mechanism 66.
The power shovel 10 includes a hoist mechanism 90 which is operable for pivoting the arm 44 relative to the boom 30 about the arm pivot axis 38 for moving and lifting the bucket 52. More particularly, the hoist mechanism 90 includes the hoist drum 18 and a rope 92 which is windable on to and off of the hoist drum 18. The hoist mechanism 90 also includes a first sheave 94 rotatably mounted on the upper end of the gantry support 22, and a second sheave 96 rotatably mounted on the upper end 48 of the arm 44 at a mounting point 98. The rope 92 is reeved over the 2 ~ 992~
sheaves 94 and 96 and is fixed to the gantry support 22 at the end opposite the hoist drum 18. The hoist drum 18 is rotatable in one direction for winding the rope 92 on to the drum to pivot the arm 44 upwardly (counterclockwise in Fig. 1) for lifting the bucket 52. The hoist drum 18 is rotatable in the opposite direction for unwinding the rope 92 off the drum to pivot the arm 44 downwardly (clockwise in Fig. 1) for lowering the bucket 52.
In particular, when the rope 92 is unwound off the hoist drum 18, the weight of the arm 44 causes the arm 44 to pivot downwardly about the arm pivot point 38. The size of the arm 44, and particularly the distance between the second sheave 96 and the boom pivot axis 38, is predetermined so that operation of the hoist mechanism 90 to pivot the arm 44 upwardly provides a pre-selected digging force to move the bucket 52 into the earth material. The hoist mechanism 90 can àlso be operated simultaneously with the hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 to provide a greater digging force to the bucket 52 than provided solely by operation of the hoist mechanism 90.
The arm pivot axis 38, the sheave mounting point 98 and the bucket pivot axis 54 define a triangle. More particularly, a line segment A (Fig. 6) extending between the arm pivot axis 38 and the sheave mounting point 98 and a line segment B extending between the sheave mounting point 98 and the bucket pivot axis 54 define an angle of about 40~. The line segment B and a line segment C extending between the bucket pivot axis 54 and the arm 2 1 9920~
~ARN9095 . CIP
pivot axis 38 define an angle of about 30~. The line segments A
and C define an angle of about 110~.
When the boom 30 is in the upper position and the arm 44 is in the pivoted down position (Figs. 1 and 6), the line segment C
defines an angle D (Fig. 6) of about 15~ relative to vertical.
Accordingly, the bucket 52 can be positioned to dig very near the frame 12 near ground level. When the arm 44 is in the pivoted down position as shown in Fig. 1, the upper end 46 is spaced from the arm pivot axis 38 in the direction away from the frame 12.
The shape of the upper end 46 permits the arm 44 to be pivoted upwardly from the pivoted down position through a range of motion of at least about 100~, to the pivoted up position (Fig. 5) in which the line segment C (not shown in Fig. 5) defines an angle of at least about 115~ relative to vertical. Further, when the arm 44 is in the pivoted down position, the lower end 48 is spaced from the arm pivot axis 38 in the direction away from the frame 12. The shape of the lower end 48 of the arm 44, and particularly the location of the bucket pivot axis 54 in relation to the arm pivot axis 38, ensures that the bucket 52 can dig at positions which are high up a bank by pivoting the arm 44. The shape of the arm 44 thus provides a very large digging area, especially in the vertical direction.
The shape of the arm 44 also causes the center of gravity of the arm 44 to be located near the arm pivot axis 38 and thus near the frame 12. Accordingly, the hoist mechanism 90 is required to 2 1 ~9208 IIARN9095 .CIP
do relatively little work for pivoting the arm 44 upwardly. The shape of the upper end 46 of the arm 44, and particularly the location of the sheave mounting axis 98 in relation to the arm pivot axis 38, ensures effectiveness of the hoist mechanism 90 for pivoting the arm 44, because appropriate moments are obtained in all positions of the arm 44. The location of the bucket pivot axis 54 in relation to the arm pivot axis 38 also establishes an appropriate orientation of the bucket 52 when raised for emptying material therefrom. The shape of the lower end 46 of the arm 44 also ensures that the Z-type linkage 68 will not extend rearward or below the arm 44 and thus will not be damaged when digging or emptying material from the bucket 52.
Although the shovel 10 can be operated in any suitable manner, an exemplary mode of operation will now be described.
The power shovel 10 is initially moved by operation of the crawler tracks 14 to a desired stationary digging location on level ground adjacent an upwardly extending bank of earth material. The power shovel 10 typically will remain in the same digging location for a period of about an hour or more, digging from the bank in a wedge-shaped digging region (as viewed from above), before again being moved on the crawler tracks 14 to an adjacent digging location. As shown in Fig. 1, digging ordinarily will commence at ground level from the lower portion of the bank. In an initial position of the bucket 52 (Fig. 1), the crowd mechanism 40 is contracted and the boom 30 is in the ~ 2 1 ~920~
~iARN9095 .CIP
upper position, the arm 44 is pivoted down, and the bucket 52 is in the upwardly tilted position with the digging teeth 65 extending horizontally. From the initial position (Fig. 1), the bucket 52 is moved in the horizontal direction to a second or digging position (Fig. 2) in the earth material by extending the crowd mechanism 40 to pivot the boom 30 downwardly about the boom pivot point 34 from the upper position to an intermediate position, and by slightly contracting the hydraulic apparatus 86 to maintain the bucket 52 in a relatively constant attitude with the digging teeth 65 extending horizontally for cutting through the earth material. secause the hoist mechanism 90 is maintained in t~e same condition from the initial position (Fig. 1) to the digging position (Fig. 2), the angle or position of the arm 44 relative to the boom 30 changes from the initial position (Fig.
1) to the digging position (Fig. 2). Accordingly, the hydraulic apparatus 86 must be slightly contracted in order to maintain the bucket 52 in a relatively constant attitude with the digging teeth 65 extending horizontally.
From the digging position (Fig. 2) the bucket 52 is moved through the earth material to a third or filled position (solid lines in Fig. 3) by operating the hoist mechanism 92 to pivot the arm 44 upwardly about the arm pivot axis 38. Because the bucket tilting mechanism 66 is connected to the arm pivot axis 38, the bucket 52 r~m~; ns in a fixed tilt position in relation to the arm 2 J 99~
44 while the arm 44 is pivoted upwardly without operating the bucket tilting mechanism 66.
From the filled position (solid lines in Fig. 3) the bucket 52 is tilted up relative to the arm 44 to a fourth or carrying position (phantom lines in Fig. 3) in which the earth material is retained in the bucket 52. In order to move the bucket 52 from the filled position (solid lines in Fig. 3) to the carrying position (phantom lines in Fig. 3), the bucket tilting mechanism 66 is operated to tilt the bucket 52 upwardly about the bucket pivot axis 54. With the bucket 52 in the carrying position, the frame 12 is pivoted relative to the crawler tracks 14 to swing the bucket 52 from a position above the digging area to a position above a truck (Fig. 4). In order to provide a desirable orientation of the bucket 52 for readily dumping the material into the truck, the crowd mechanism 40 is contracted to pivot the boom 30 to the upper position, with the bucket 52 r~m~;n;ng generally in the carrying position (phantom lines in Fig. 4).
With the bucket 52 positioned over the truck in the carrying position, the bucket tilting mechanism 66 is operated to tilt the bucket 52 downwardly relative to the arm 44 to a dumping position (solid lines in Fig. 4) wherein the mouth 64 opens downwardly for emptying the earth material from the bucket 52 and into the truck. As shown in Fig. 4, the location and orientation of the Z-type linkage 68 on the arm 44 prevents the Z-type linkage 68 i~ARN9095 .CIP
from extending below the arm 44 and contacting the side wall of the truck and from being damaged thereby.
The power shovel 10 weighs much less than an electric shovel having a comparable dipper capacity and digging radius. For example, a power shovel 10 weighing about 1,600,000 lbs. can have a bucket capacity (about 46 cubic yards) and digging radius (about feet) comparable to an electric shovel weighing about 1,900,000 lbs.
The arm 44 can be pivoted relative to the boom 30, and the boom 30 also can be pivoted relative to the frame 12, for the bucket 52 to reach a large digging area. The bucket 52 can be articulated relative to the arm 44 for efficiently digging and for quickly filling the bucket 52 with a short digging stroke.
The bucket 52 also can be articulated for digging in the lower portion of a bank with a high fill factor. The bucket 52 can be moved in the horizontal direction along the ground and articulated relative to the arm 44 for scooping material from the ground, without also digging down into the ground. This eliminates the need for an additional piece of equipment, such as a front end loader, for ground cleanup around the power shovel 10. The bucket 52 is lightweight and of relatively simple design, and accordingly is inexpensive to construct and maintain.
The boom 30 is short and lightweight. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the boom 30 between the arm pivot axis 38 and the boom pivot axis 34 is less than the length of the line -- ~ ~ 99208 segment C (Fig. 6) extending between the arm pivot axis 38 and the bucket pivot axis 54, and also is less than about half the length of the line segment A extending between the upper and lower ends 46 and 48 of the arm 44. The lightweight boom 30 is simple and inexpensive to construct and maintain.
The lifting attachment is relatively lightweight, and the center of mass of the lifting attachment is relatively close to the centerline of rotation of the frame 12. This is because, in addition to the bucket 52 being lightweight and the boom 30 being short and lightweight, the arm pivot axis 38 is located intermediate the ends of the arm 44, so the center of mass of the arm is near the arm pivot axis 38. The inertial force generated by rotating the frame 12 relative to the crawler tracks 14 to swing the bucket 52 over a truck is relatively low, and the moment on the boom 30 when pivoting the arm 44 in the vertical direction also is relatively low. Accordingly, swing and drive components are relatively lightweight.
The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 is relatively simple to construct and is simple and inexpensive to maintain. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 is short and is capable of relatively fast operation.
The power shovel 10 has a greater lifting capacity than a comparable hydraulic shovel. The bucket 52 is lifted primarily by operating the hoist mechanism 90 to pivot the arm 44. By operating the hoist mechanism 90 to pivot the arm 44, the bucket ~ 9 2 0 8 i3AP~N9095 .CIP
52 can be moved along a long horizontal path for scooping material near ground level, or along an upward path for scooping material from a bank or emptying material into a truck. The hoist mechanism 90 is a relatively reliable means of moving and lifting the bucket 52. The hoist mechanism 90 also absorbs shock which is transmitted through the arm 44. The hydraulic crowd mechanism 40 ordinarily can be operated to position the empty bucket 52 in or near the digging position, and then maintained in a static position to support the boom 30 during operation of the hoist mechanism 90 to move and lift the bucket 52.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims (52)
1. A power shovel for digging into and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis;
an arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm pivot axis being intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm;
a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping the earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket;
a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis between an upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material and a downwardly tilted position for emptying earth material from the bucket;
an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism extending between the boom and the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point and being connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis;
an arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm pivot axis being intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm;
a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping the earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket;
a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis between an upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material and a downwardly tilted position for emptying earth material from the bucket;
an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism extending between the boom and the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point and being connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
2. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the arm pivot axis is spaced in the direction of the frame from a line extending through the upper and lower ends of the arm.
3. A power shovel as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the arm is generally banana-shaped.
4. A power shovel as set forth in claim 3 and wherein the arm pivot axis and upper and lower ends define a triangle, the arm pivot axis and the upper end defining a first side thereof, the upper and lower ends defining a second side thereof, and the lower end and arm pivot axis defining a third side thereof, the first and second sides defining therebetween an angle of about 40°, the second and third sides defining therebetween an angle of about 30°, and the third and first sides defining therebetween an angle of about 110°.
5. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the bucket tilting mechanism includes a Z-type linkage, the Z-type linkage including an elongated primary link having opposite first and second ends, the primary link being mounted on the arm for pivotal movement relative thereto about a point located between the ends of the primary link, the Z-type linkage including an elongated secondary link having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the primary link and a second end pivotally connected to the bucket at a point spaced from the bucket pivot axis, and the Z-type linkage including an extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus having opposite ends, one end of the hydraulic apparatus being connected to the first end of the primary link, the hydraulic apparatus being operable to pivot the primary link so as to tilt the bucket.
6. A power shovel as set forth in claim 5 and the arm being pivotable such that the lower end of the arm is highest when the arm is pivoted up and is lowest when the arm is pivoted down, and the first end of the primary link being above the second end of the primary link when the arm is pivoted down.
7. A power shovel as set forth in claim 5 and the Z-type linkage being operable to tilt the bucket to the upwardly tilted position by extending the hydraulic apparatus.
8. A power shovel as set forth in claim 5 and wherein the other end of the hydraulic apparatus is connected to the arm pivot axis.
9. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the length of the boom between the arm pivot axis and the boom pivot axis is less than the length of a line segment extending between the arm pivot axis and the bucket pivot axis.
10. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the length of the boom between the arm pivot axis and the boom pivot axis is less than about half the length of a line segment extending between the upper and lower ends of the arm.
11. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein a line extending between the boom pivot axis and the arm pivot axis defines an angle of about 11° relative to vertical when the crowd mechanism is fully contracted and the power shovel rests on level ground.
12. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and further including a set of crawler tracks supporting the frame for movement across the ground, the arm pivot axis being located in a vertical plane extending through the crawler tracks when the crowd mechanism is fully contracted and the power shovel rests on level ground.
13. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the first and second points of connection of the crowd mechanism are located at substantially the same vertical height when the crowd mechanism is fully retracted and the power shovel rests on level ground.
14. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and including a gantry support extending upwardly from the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the gantry support at the second point.
15. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the first point of connection of the crowd mechanism is intermediate the upper and lower ends of the boom.
16. A power shovel as set forth in claim 15 and wherein the first point of connection of the crowd mechanism is spaced from the arm pivot axis about 1/3 of the distance from the arm pivot axis to the boom pivot axis.
17. A power shovel as set forth in claim 15 and wherein the first point of connection of the crowd mechanism is spaced from a line extending between the arm pivot axis and the boom pivot axis.
18. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and including a stop on the lower end of the arm, the stop engaging the bucket when the bucket is tilted to the downwardly tilted position so as to decrease the load on the tilting mechanism.
19. A power shovel as set forth in claim 1 and including a gantry support extending upwardly from the frame, and the hoist mechanism including a first rotatable sheave mounted on the gantry support, a second rotatable sheave mounted on the upper end of the arm, and a rope which is trained around the first and second sheaves and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
20. A power shovel for digging into and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis;
a generally banana-shaped arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm pivot axis being intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm, the arm pivot axis being spaced in the direction of the frame from a line extending through the upper and lower ends;
a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping the earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket;
a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis between an upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material and a downwardly tilted position for emptying earth material from the bucket;
an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism extending between the boom and the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the boom, the crowd mechanism being connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis;
a generally banana-shaped arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm pivot axis being intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm, the arm pivot axis being spaced in the direction of the frame from a line extending through the upper and lower ends;
a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping the earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket;
a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis between an upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material and a downwardly tilted position for emptying earth material from the bucket;
an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism extending between the boom and the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the boom, the crowd mechanism being connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
21. A power shovel as set forth in claim 20 and wherein the arm pivot axis and upper and lower ends define a triangle, the arm pivot axis and the upper end defining a first side thereof, the upper and lower ends defining a second side thereof, and the lower end and arm pivot axis defining a third side thereof, the first and second sides defining therebetween an angle of about 40°, the second and third sides defining therebetween an angle of about 30°, and the third and first sides defining therebetween an angle of about 110°.
22. A power shovel as set forth in claim 20 and wherein the bucket tilting mechanism includes a Z-type linkage, the Z-type linkage including an elongated primary link having opposite first and second ends, the primary link being mounted on the arm for pivotal movement relative thereto about a point located between the ends of the primary link, the Z-type linkage including an elongated secondary link having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the primary link and a second end pivotally connected to the bucket at a point spaced from the bucket pivot axis, and the Z-type linkage including an extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus having opposite ends, one end of the hydraulic apparatus being connected to the first end of the primary link, the hydraulic apparatus being operable to pivot the primary link so as to tilt the bucket.
23. A power shovel as set forth in claim 22 and wherein the other end of the hydraulic apparatus is connected to the arm pivot axis.
24. A power shovel as set forth in claim 20 and wherein the length of the boom between the arm pivot axis and the boom pivot axis is less than the length of a line segment extending between the arm pivot axis and the bucket pivot axis.
25. A power shovel as set forth in claim 20 and wherein a line extending between the boom pivot axis and the arm pivot axis defines an angle of about 10° relative to vertical when the crowd mechanism is fully contracted and the power shovel rests on level ground.
26. A power shovel as set forth in claim 20 and wherein the first point of connection of the crowd mechanism is spaced from the arm pivot axis about 1/3 of the distance from the arm pivot axis to the boom pivot axis.
27. A power shovel for digging into and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis;
a generally banana-shaped arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm pivot axis being intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm, the arm pivot axis being spaced in the direction of the frame from a line extending through the upper and lower ends, the lower end of the arm being highest when the arm is pivoted up and lowest when the arm is pivoted down, the arm pivot axis and upper and lower ends defining a triangle, the arm pivot axis and the upper end defining a first side thereof, the upper and lower ends defining a second side thereof, and the lower end and arm pivot axis defining a third side thereof, the first and second sides defining therebetween an angle of about 40°, the second and third sides defining therebetween an angle of about 30°, and the third and first sides defining therebetween an angle of about 110°;
a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping the earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket;
a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis between an upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material and a downwardly tilted position for emptying earth material from the bucket;
an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism extending between the boom and the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the boom, the crowd mechanism being connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a boom pivot axis;
a generally banana-shaped arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an arm pivot axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm pivot axis being intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm, the arm pivot axis being spaced in the direction of the frame from a line extending through the upper and lower ends, the lower end of the arm being highest when the arm is pivoted up and lowest when the arm is pivoted down, the arm pivot axis and upper and lower ends defining a triangle, the arm pivot axis and the upper end defining a first side thereof, the upper and lower ends defining a second side thereof, and the lower end and arm pivot axis defining a third side thereof, the first and second sides defining therebetween an angle of about 40°, the second and third sides defining therebetween an angle of about 30°, and the third and first sides defining therebetween an angle of about 110°;
a front dump bucket mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof for tilting pivotal movement relative thereto about a bucket pivot axis, the bucket having an open mouth for scooping the earth material into the bucket and for emptying the earth material from the bucket;
a bucket tilting mechanism connected to the bucket for tilting the bucket relative to the arm about the bucket pivot axis between an upwardly tilted position for scooping and retaining earth material and a downwardly tilted position for emptying earth material from the bucket;
an extendible and contractible hydraulic crowd mechanism extending between the boom and the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the boom, the crowd mechanism being connected to the frame at a second point, the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the crowd mechanism so as to move the bucket away from the frame during digging; and a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm relative to the boom about the arm pivot axis, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope which is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and which is windable on to and off of the drum.
28. A power shovel as set forth in claim 27 and wherein the bucket tilting mechanism includes a Z-type linkage, the Z-type linkage including an elongated primary link having opposite first and second ends, the primary link being mounted on the arm for pivotal movement relative thereto about a point located between the ends of the primary link, the Z-type linkage including an elongated secondary link having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the primary link and a second end pivotally connected to the bucket at a point spaced from the bucket pivot axis, and the Z-type linkage including an extendible and contractible hydraulic apparatus having opposite ends, one end of the hydraulic apparatus being connected to the first end of the primary link, the hydraulic apparatus being operable to pivot the primary link so as to tilt the bucket.
29. A power shovel as set forth in claim 28 and wherein the other end of the hydraulic apparatus is connected to the arm pivot axis.
30. A power shovel as set forth in claim 27 and wherein the length of the boom between the arm pivot axis and the boom pivot axis is less than the length of a line segment extending between the arm pivot axis and the bucket pivot axis.
31. A power shovel as set forth in claim 27 and wherein a line extending between the boom pivot axis and the arm pivot axis defines an angle of about 10° relative to vertical when the crowd mechanism is fully contracted and the power shovel rests on level ground.
32. A power shovel as set forth in claim 27 and wherein the first point of connection of the crowd mechanism is spaced from the arm pivot axis about 1/3 of the distance from the arm pivot axis to the boom pivot axis.
33. A surface mining shovel for digging into and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame;
a gantry support extending upward from the frame;
a boom extending upward from and pivotally mounted on the frame;
an arm mounted on the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis;
a digging tool mounted on the arm and engagable with the earth material as the arm pivots;
hoist means for pivoting the arm to engage the digging tool with the earth material and to lift the digging tool; and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the gantry support, the connection of the crowd mechanism to the boom being at a location spaced from said axis, the connection of the crowd mechanism to the gantry support being at a position above the location at which the boom is mounted on the frame, for pivoting the boom and moving the digging tool on the arm into the earth material whereby the earth material enters the digging tool and can be lifted with the digging tool as the arm is pivoted by the hoist means.
a frame;
a gantry support extending upward from the frame;
a boom extending upward from and pivotally mounted on the frame;
an arm mounted on the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis;
a digging tool mounted on the arm and engagable with the earth material as the arm pivots;
hoist means for pivoting the arm to engage the digging tool with the earth material and to lift the digging tool; and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the gantry support, the connection of the crowd mechanism to the boom being at a location spaced from said axis, the connection of the crowd mechanism to the gantry support being at a position above the location at which the boom is mounted on the frame, for pivoting the boom and moving the digging tool on the arm into the earth material whereby the earth material enters the digging tool and can be lifted with the digging tool as the arm is pivoted by the hoist means.
34. The shovel according to claim 33 wherein the hydraulic crowd mechanism comprises a hydraulic assembly connected to the gantry support at said position and connected to the boom, the hydraulic assembly being extendible to apply crowd force to the boom.
35. The shovel according to claim 33 wherein the hydraulic crowd mechanism comprises a hydraulic assembly for moving the arm and digging tool away from the frame, the movement of the digging tool by the crowd mechanism being only along a path away from the frame.
36. A shovel as set forth in claim 33 wherein the boom has a lower end mounted on the frame and has an upper end on which the arm is mounted.
37. A shovel as set forth in claim 33 wherein the crowd mechanism is connected to the boom between the frame and said axis.
38. A surface mining shovel for digging and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame;
a digging tool for digging into and carrying the earth material;
an elongated arm having first and second opposite ends, the arm being mounted for pivotal movement on the upper end of the boom at a pivot point intermediate the opposite ends of the arm, the digging tool being mounted on the second end of the arm and pivotally movable with the arm along a path into the earth material;
a hoist mechanism connected to the arm adjacent the first end of the arm for pivoting the arm and the digging tool about the pivot point on the boom along said path of the digging tool into the earth material; and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a point spaced from said pivot point, the crowd mechanism being operable for moving the arm and the digging tool on the arm along said path into the earth material, the movement by the crowd mechanism of the arm and digging tool being simultaneous with the pivotal movement of the arm to move the digging tool along the path into the earth material, whereby the movement of the arm due to both the crowd mechanism and hoist mechanism provides a high digging force into the earth material.
a frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being mounted on the frame;
a digging tool for digging into and carrying the earth material;
an elongated arm having first and second opposite ends, the arm being mounted for pivotal movement on the upper end of the boom at a pivot point intermediate the opposite ends of the arm, the digging tool being mounted on the second end of the arm and pivotally movable with the arm along a path into the earth material;
a hoist mechanism connected to the arm adjacent the first end of the arm for pivoting the arm and the digging tool about the pivot point on the boom along said path of the digging tool into the earth material; and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the frame, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a point spaced from said pivot point, the crowd mechanism being operable for moving the arm and the digging tool on the arm along said path into the earth material, the movement by the crowd mechanism of the arm and digging tool being simultaneous with the pivotal movement of the arm to move the digging tool along the path into the earth material, whereby the movement of the arm due to both the crowd mechanism and hoist mechanism provides a high digging force into the earth material.
39. The shovel according to claim 38 wherein:
the hoist mechanism includes a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope connected to the arm and windable on to and off of the drum for providing force to pivot the arm and move the digging tool along said path into the earth material; and the crowd mechanism comprises a hydraulic assembly connected to the boom for providing hydraulic digging force to move the arm and the digging tool along said path into the earth material simultaneously with the providing of digging force by the rope whereby high digging force is provided by the hydraulic assembly and rope of the hoist mechanism together.
the hoist mechanism includes a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope connected to the arm and windable on to and off of the drum for providing force to pivot the arm and move the digging tool along said path into the earth material; and the crowd mechanism comprises a hydraulic assembly connected to the boom for providing hydraulic digging force to move the arm and the digging tool along said path into the earth material simultaneously with the providing of digging force by the rope whereby high digging force is provided by the hydraulic assembly and rope of the hoist mechanism together.
40. A method of digging into earth material with a surface mining shovel having a frame, a boom pivotally mounted on and extending upwardly from the frame, an elongated arm pivotally mounted on the boom, a digging tool affixed to an end of the arm, and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom, comprising the steps of:
pivoting the arm on the boom to move the digging tool into engagement with the earth material; and applying force from a position above the pivotal mounting of the boom on the frame directly to the boom, at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the arm and the boom, with the crowd mechanism in a digging direction to move the arm and thereby the digging tool to dig into the earth material.
pivoting the arm on the boom to move the digging tool into engagement with the earth material; and applying force from a position above the pivotal mounting of the boom on the frame directly to the boom, at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the arm and the boom, with the crowd mechanism in a digging direction to move the arm and thereby the digging tool to dig into the earth material.
41. The method according to claim 40 further comprising the step of pivoting the arm to move the digging tool to dig into the earth material simultaneously with the applying of force to the boom with the crowd mechanism to move the digging tool to dig into the earth material.
42. The method according to claim 41 wherein:
the step of applying force with the crowd mechanism comprises applying hydraulic force to a hydraulic assembly connected to the boom to extend the hydraulic assembly; and the step of pivoting the arm includes providing a rotatable drum and a rope connected to the arm and the drum, and rotating the drum to wind the rope onto or pay rope off of the drum to pivot the arm upward when the drum winds rope onto the drum and pivot the arm downward when the drum pays rope off of the drum and the weight of the arm moves the arm downward.
the step of applying force with the crowd mechanism comprises applying hydraulic force to a hydraulic assembly connected to the boom to extend the hydraulic assembly; and the step of pivoting the arm includes providing a rotatable drum and a rope connected to the arm and the drum, and rotating the drum to wind the rope onto or pay rope off of the drum to pivot the arm upward when the drum winds rope onto the drum and pivot the arm downward when the drum pays rope off of the drum and the weight of the arm moves the arm downward.
43. The method according to claim 40 wherein:
the frame includes an upwardly extending gantry support; and further comprising the step of bracing the crowd mechanism against the gantry support while simultaneously applying force to the boom with the crowd mechanism.
the frame includes an upwardly extending gantry support; and further comprising the step of bracing the crowd mechanism against the gantry support while simultaneously applying force to the boom with the crowd mechanism.
44. A surface mining shovel for digging into and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame;
a boom extending upward from and pivotally mounted on the frame;
an arm mounted on the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis;
a digging tool mounted on the arm and engagable with the earth material as the arm pivots;
a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm to engage the digging tool with the earth material and lift the digging tool; and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the frame r the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point spaced from said axis, the crowd mechanism being connected to the frame at a second point, and the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point so as to force the digging tool into the earth material.
a frame;
a boom extending upward from and pivotally mounted on the frame;
an arm mounted on the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis;
a digging tool mounted on the arm and engagable with the earth material as the arm pivots;
a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm to engage the digging tool with the earth material and lift the digging tool; and a hydraulic crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the frame r the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point spaced from said axis, the crowd mechanism being connected to the frame at a second point, and the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point so as to force the digging tool into the earth material.
45. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 wherein the second point is above the pivotal connection of the boom to the frame.
46. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 and further comprising a gantry support extending upwardly from the frame, and wherein the crowd mechanism is connected to the frame via the gantry support.
47. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 wherein the crowd mechanism includes an extendible and contractible hydraulic device, and wherein the first point is forced away from the second point by extending the hydraulic device.
48. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 wherein the arm has upper and lower ends, wherein the digging tool is mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof, wherein the hoist mechanism is connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof, and wherein the boom is pivotally connected to the arm intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof.
49. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 wherein the hoist mechanism includes a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope connected to the arm and windable on to and off of the drum.
50. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 wherein the boom has a lower end mounted on the frame and has an upper end on which the arm is mounted.
51. A shovel as set forth in claim 44 wherein the crowd mechanism is connected to the boom between the frame and said axis.
52. A surface mining shovel for digging into and moving earth material, the shovel comprising:
a frame including a working end;
a gantry support extending upwardly from the frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being pivotally mounted on the frame at a location adjacent the working end of the frame;
an arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm being pivotally connected to the boom at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm;
a digging tool mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof and engagable with the earth material as the arm pivots;
a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm to engage the digging tool with the earth material and lift the digging tool, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and windable on to and off of the drum; and a crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the gantry support, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point spaced from said axis, the crowd mechanism being connected to the gantry support at a second point, the second point being above the first point and above the pivotal connection of the boom to the frame, the crowd mechanism including an extendible and contractible hydraulic device, and the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the hydraulic device so as to force the digging tool into the earth material.
a frame including a working end;
a gantry support extending upwardly from the frame;
a boom extending upward from the frame and having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the boom being pivotally mounted on the frame at a location adjacent the working end of the frame;
an arm mounted on the upper end of the boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis, the arm having upper and lower ends, the arm being pivotally connected to the boom at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arm;
a digging tool mounted on the arm adjacent the lower end thereof and engagable with the earth material as the arm pivots;
a hoist mechanism for pivoting the arm to engage the digging tool with the earth material and lift the digging tool, the hoist mechanism including a rotatable drum mounted on the frame and a rope connected to the arm adjacent the upper end thereof and windable on to and off of the drum; and a crowd mechanism connected to the boom and to the gantry support, the crowd mechanism being connected to the boom at a first point spaced from said axis, the crowd mechanism being connected to the gantry support at a second point, the second point being above the first point and above the pivotal connection of the boom to the frame, the crowd mechanism including an extendible and contractible hydraulic device, and the crowd mechanism being operable to force the first point away from the second point by extending the hydraulic device so as to force the digging tool into the earth material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US69904496A | 1996-04-29 | 1996-04-29 | |
| US08/699,044 | 1996-04-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2199208A1 true CA2199208A1 (en) | 1997-10-29 |
Family
ID=24807701
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002199208A Abandoned CA2199208A1 (en) | 1996-04-29 | 1997-03-05 | Surface mining shovel |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH1046620A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1166558A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU1913197A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9701958A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2199208A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE19717567A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9703103A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA973363B (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP4606365B2 (en) * | 2006-03-29 | 2011-01-05 | 株式会社クボタ | loader |
| US7832126B2 (en) * | 2007-05-17 | 2010-11-16 | Siemens Industry, Inc. | Systems, devices, and/or methods regarding excavating |
| AU2012200525B2 (en) * | 2011-02-01 | 2014-11-27 | Joy Global Surface Mining Inc | Shovel having a wristing dipper |
| AU2012200496B2 (en) * | 2011-02-01 | 2015-01-29 | Joy Global Surface Mining Inc | Rope shovel with curved boom |
| CN102155028B (en) * | 2011-04-19 | 2012-06-27 | 唐兵 | Lifting type bucket control device and forklift |
| RU2485317C2 (en) * | 2011-04-22 | 2013-06-20 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ИЗ-КАРТЭКС имени П.Г. Коробкова" (ООО "ИЗ-КАРТЭКС имени П.Г. Коробкова") | Method to form trajectory of dragline mine excavator bucket and working equipment for its realisation |
| CN102561425B (en) * | 2011-12-27 | 2014-04-16 | 燕山大学 | Four-degree-of-freedom connecting rod working mechanism containing composite hinges |
| RU2728111C2 (en) | 2012-01-31 | 2020-07-28 | Джой Глобал Серфейс Майнинг Инк | Digging unit for cable excavator and digging tool for rope excavator (versions) |
| CN102720228B (en) * | 2012-06-01 | 2014-12-24 | 燕山大学 | Face shovel spadework device provided with movement redundancy and capable of optimizing spading force |
| AU2013231124B2 (en) * | 2012-09-21 | 2017-04-06 | Joy Global Surface Mining Inc | Rope shovel |
| CN103046586B (en) * | 2012-12-05 | 2015-09-16 | 燕山大学 | Optimize the excavation loading attachment of digging force |
| JP5969380B2 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2016-08-17 | 住友建機株式会社 | Excavator and excavator control method |
| CN103437386B (en) * | 2013-07-01 | 2015-12-09 | 燕山大学 | Automatically can realize scraper bowl and promote the energy-conservation peaceful crowd shovel excavation loading attachment moving requirement |
| US9587377B2 (en) | 2015-02-06 | 2017-03-07 | Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc. | Raised counterweight for a mining machine |
| CN107965322A (en) * | 2015-06-19 | 2018-04-27 | 乌鲁木齐九品芝麻信息科技有限公司 | A kind of excavator for ore extraction |
| CN105298497A (en) * | 2015-11-18 | 2016-02-03 | 中国神华能源股份有限公司 | Fan-shaped rotating mining method for recovering residual coal |
-
1997
- 1997-03-05 CA CA002199208A patent/CA2199208A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-04-18 ZA ZA9703363A patent/ZA973363B/en unknown
- 1997-04-25 DE DE19717567A patent/DE19717567A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-04-25 CN CN97109717A patent/CN1166558A/en active Pending
- 1997-04-28 MX MX9703103A patent/MX9703103A/en unknown
- 1997-04-28 AU AU19131/97A patent/AU1913197A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-04-29 BR BR9701958A patent/BR9701958A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-04-30 JP JP9126485A patent/JPH1046620A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA973363B (en) | 1997-11-18 |
| DE19717567A1 (en) | 1997-10-30 |
| CN1166558A (en) | 1997-12-03 |
| BR9701958A (en) | 1998-11-10 |
| MX9703103A (en) | 1998-04-30 |
| JPH1046620A (en) | 1998-02-17 |
| AU1913197A (en) | 1997-11-06 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |