EP0152354B1 - Mobile apparatus with a stabilizing device - Google Patents

Description

Many public works vehicles, such as cranes or hydraulic shovels, self-propelled or simply mobile, are stabilized during the operation of their work equipment.

This momentary increase in stability avoids the tilting of the machine under the effect of the lifted load or the digging effort.

The principle of the increase in stability consists in increasing the support polygon by providing the machine with rigid support zones, spaced as far as possible from the frame of the machine, these zones being constituted by retractable support pads. during the movement of the machine.

The maximum spacing of the support pads in service and satisfactory retraction on the move are two contradictory conditions, the retraction condition prevailing for regulatory reasons for laws governing the movement of vehicles on the road.

The invention intends to lift this antinomy in. adopting the technique of articulated elements, increasing the ground clearance of previous solutions, ensuring a greater bearing range than that of previous solutions.

EP-A-124 024 describes a state of the art according to Article 54 (3) and (4) of the EPC, in which articulated elements are used. This document, which has a date prior to that of which this patent application benefits, can be cited with regard to the novelty of the invention: as defined in claim 1, it remains however new by the relative deflections and by the possible positions of its various constituents.

FR-A-2 287 412 describes a stabilization device in which arms, bearing sole plates on the ground, are mounted on a beam fixed relative to the frame of the machine. The invention defined in claim 1 is already new when it provides for the adjustable rotation of said beam relative to the frame.

FR-A-2 474 415 describes a stabilization device in which the arms, which carry the footings on the ground, are welded on a beam pivotally mounted relative to the frame, whereas, in the claimed invention, the arms themselves are pivotally mounted relative to the beam.

• a) chaque bras est monté sur la poutre pivotant autour d'un axe, est attelé à un premier organe de réglage de son pivotement par rapport à ladite poutre, supporte une semelle d'appui sur le sol et possède deux positions extrêmes de pivotement par rapport à la poutre, qui sont séparées par un arc de pivotement sensiblement supérieur à 90°,
• b) les axes de pivotement des deux bras par rapport à la poutre sont parallèles,
• c) la poutre est montée pivotante par rapport au bâti autour d'un axe qui est orthogonal auxdits axes de pivotement des deux bras,
• d) un deuxième organe de réglage du pivotement de la poutre par rapport au bâti est attelé entre cette poutre et ce bâti,
• e) lorsque la poutre est placée dans la configuration d'utilisation du dispositif de stabilisation, dans une première de ses deux positions extrêmes, chaque bras s'étend sous la poutre, sensiblement parallèlement à celle-ci, et a une première des faces le délimitant, qui est opposée à la poutre et qui est. sensiblement horizontale et susceptible de constituer une face d'appui du bras sur le sol, distincte de la semelle dudit bras, alors que, dans la deuxième de ses positions extrêmes, ce bras s'étend obliquement par rapport à la poutre, sa semelle d'appui étant écartée de la poutre et étant sensiblement horizontale, la distance qui sépare ladite première face d'un bras disposée dans sa première position par rapport à un plan horizontal déterminé étant sensiblement égale à la distance séparant la semelle d'appui du même bras, cette fois disposée dans sa deuxième position, par rapport au même plan horizontal déterminé.

The invention defined by claim 1 is therefore that of a mobile machine comprising a frame, a beam mounted on the frame and a stabilization device comprising at least two arms, and in which the following arrangements are also adopted:

• a) each arm is mounted on the beam pivoting about an axis, is coupled to a first member for adjusting its pivoting with respect to said beam, supports a support sole on the ground and has two extreme pivoting positions by relative to the beam, which are separated by a pivoting arc substantially greater than 90 °,
• b) the pivot axes of the two arms relative to the beam are parallel,
• c) the beam is pivotally mounted relative to the frame about an axis which is orthogonal to said pivot axes of the two arms,
• d) a second member for adjusting the pivoting of the beam relative to the frame is coupled between this beam and this frame,
• e) when the beam is placed in the configuration of use of the stabilization device, in a first of its two extreme positions, each arm extends under the beam, substantially parallel to the latter, and has a first of the faces the delimiting, which is opposite to the beam and which is. substantially horizontal and capable of constituting a bearing face of the arm on the ground, distinct from the sole of said arm, while, in the second of its extreme positions, this arm extends obliquely with respect to the beam, its sole d '' support being spaced from the beam and being substantially horizontal, the distance between said first face of an arm arranged in its first position relative to a determined horizontal plane being substantially equal to the distance separating the support sole of the same arm , this time disposed in its second position, relative to the same determined horizontal plane.

• dans la première position d'un bras, une deuxième des faces le délimitant est adjacente à la face inférieure de la poutre et est en appui sur ladite poutre ;
• le premier organe de réglage du pivotement de chaque bras par rapport à la poutre est constitué par un ensemble de deux bielles formant palonnier et par un vérin à fluide sous pression, une première de ces deux bielles reliant, au moyen de deux axes de pivotement, une extrémité du vérin à la poutre, et la deuxième des deux bielles reliant, au moyen de deux axes de pivotement, ladite extrémité dudit vérin audit bras ;
• les extrémités de la première et de la deuxième bielle de deux bielles correspondant à un bras, reliées à une même extrémité du vérin, sont montées pivotantes autour d'un axe commun ;
• les premiers organes de réglage du pivotement par rapport à la poutre des deux bras ont un vérin à fluide sous pression commun, dont une première extrémité est reliée aux première et deuxième bielles de réglage de la position d'un premier desdits deux bras, et dont la deuxième extrémité est reliée aux première et deuxième bielles de réglage de la position du deuxième des deux dits bras ;
• la semelle d'appui supportée par chaque bras est montée à l'extrémité de ce bras qui est opposée à l'axe de pivotement dudit bras.

The following advantageous arrangements are, in addition, preferably adopted:

• in the first position of an arm, a second of the faces delimiting it is adjacent to the underside of the beam and is in abutment on said beam;
• the first member for adjusting the pivoting of each arm relative to the beam is constituted by a set of two connecting rods forming a lifting beam and by a pressurized fluid cylinder, a first of these two connecting rods connecting, by means of two pivoting axes, one end of the jack to the beam, and the second of the two connecting rods connecting, by means of two pivot axes, said end of said jack to said arm;
• the ends of the first and second connecting rods of two connecting rods corresponding to an arm, connected to the same end of the jack, are pivotally mounted about a common axis;
• the first members for adjusting the pivoting with respect to the beam of the two arms have a common pressure fluid cylinder, one first end of which is connected to the first and second connecting rods for adjusting the position of a first of said two arms, and whose the second end is connected to the first and second connecting rods for adjusting the position of the second of the two said arms;
• the support sole supported by each arm is mounted at the end of this arm which is opposite to the pivot axis of said arm.

The invention allows, in particular, obtaining a large spacing of the support soles in service and a satisfactory retraction during road travel, as well as unreduced ground clearance.

The invention will be better understood, and secondary characteristics and their advantages will appear during the description of an embodiment given below by way of example.

It is understood that the description and the drawings are given for information only and are not limiting.

• la figure 1 est une vue de l'arrière d'une pelle hydraulique comportant un dispositif de stabilisation représenté dans une première configuration ;
• les figures 2, 3, 4, et 6 sont des vues de l'arrière de la même pelle, le dispositif de stabilisation étant placé dans des deuxième, troisième, quatrième et cinquième configurations, respectivement, et,
• la figure 5 est une vue suivant flèche F de la figure 4.

Reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a rear view of a hydraulic shovel comprising a stabilization device shown in a first configuration;
• FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6 are views from the rear of the same excavator, the stabilization device being placed in second, third, fourth and fifth configurations, respectively, and,
• FIG. 5 is a view along arrow F of FIG. 4.

• un bâti 1 ;
• deux paires de roues jumelées 2 ;
• une poutre 3 disposée horizontalement, parallèlement à la surface 4 du sol, et au plan horizontal H passant par l'axe de rotation des roues 2, montée sur le bâti 1, pivotante autour d'un axe 5 horizontal transversal ;
• un vérin hydraulique 6, de réglage de la position de la poutre 3 par rapport au bâti 1, attelé (7) entre cette poutre 3 et ce bâti 1 ;
• deux bras 8 montés pivotants, chacun à une extrémité de la poutre 3, autour d'axes 9 parallèles entre eux et orthogonaux à l'axe 5 de pivotement de la poutre 3 par rapport au bâti 1 ;
• un vérin hydraulique 10, de réglage de la position des bras 8 par rapport à la poutre 3, dont les extrémités sont attelées, par des axes 11 à des premières extrémités de premières bielles 12 et de deuxièmes bielles 13, cependant que les deuxièmes extrémités desdites bielles sont montées pivotantes, celles des premières bielles 12, par des axes 14, par rapport à la poutre 3, et, celles des deuxièmes bielles 13, par des axes 15, par rapport aux bras 8 ;
• des conduits flexibles 16 d'alimentation et d'échappement du fluide hydraulique de commande des vérins 6 et 10.

The machine represented in the figures is constituted by

• a frame 1;
• two pairs of twin wheels 2;
• a beam 3 arranged horizontally, parallel to the surface 4 of the ground, and to the horizontal plane H passing through the axis of rotation of the wheels 2, mounted on the frame 1, pivoting about a transverse horizontal axis 5;
• a hydraulic cylinder 6, for adjusting the position of the beam 3 relative to the frame 1, coupled (7) between this beam 3 and this frame 1;
• two arms 8 pivotally mounted, each at one end of the beam 3, around axes 9 parallel to each other and orthogonal to the axis 5 of pivoting of the beam 3 relative to the frame 1;
• a hydraulic jack 10, for adjusting the position of the arms 8 relative to the beam 3, the ends of which are coupled, by pins 11 at the first ends of the first connecting rods 12 and of the second connecting rods 13, while the second ends of the said connecting rods connecting rods are pivotally mounted, those of the first connecting rods 12, by axes 14, relative to the beam 3, and, those of the second connecting rods 13, by axes 15, relative to the arms 8;
• flexible conduits 16 for supplying and exhausting the hydraulic fluid for controlling the jacks 6 and 10.

• les extrémités des bras 8, opposées à celles par lesquelles ils sont montés pivotants sur la poutre 3. sont munies de semelles 17 d'appui des bras sur la surface 4 du sol ;
• les premières bielles 12 contraignent chaque axe 11 à décrire un arc de cercle par rapport à l'axe 14 correspondant, fixe par rapport à la poutre 3 ;
• la poutre 3 peut pivoter entre deux positions extrêmes représentées, l'une sur les figures 1, 2 et 3, l'autre sur les figures 4, 5, et 6, l'arc de pivotement séparant ces positions étant approximativement égal à 90°, et le pivotement correspondant plaçant une (18) des faces délimitant la poutre 3, horizontale et inférieure dans la position des figures 1, 2 et 3, et, verticale et dirigée à l'opposée du bâti 1, vers l'extérieur de l'engin, dans la position des figures 4, 5 et 6 ;
• le débattement maximal (A) du pivotement de chaque bras 8 par rapport à la poutre 3 est sensiblement supérieur à 90°, et, dans les positions de la poutre 3 représentées sur les figures 1, 2 et 3, permet de placer chaque bras 8, soit sensiblement parallèlement à la poutre 3, en étant orienté vers le plan longitudinal, vertical, médian V de l'engin et en ayant l'une (19) des faces le délimitant en appui sur la face inférieure 18 de la poutre 3 par l'intermédiaire d'une butée 20, de manière qu'une autre face 21 le délimitant, opposée à la face 19, soit en appui sur la surface 4 du sol, soit obliquement par rapport à la poutre 3, en étant orienté vers le sol et vers l'extérieur par rapport audit plan médian V de manière que sa semelle 17 soit en appui sur la surface 4 du sol ;
• dans la position de la figure 1, le bras 8, à gauche sur la figure, a sa face 21 en appui sur la surface 4 du sol et à une distance D21 du plan 4, alors que l'autre bras 8, situé à droite sur la figure, est en appui sur la surface 4 par sa semelle 17, elle-même située à une distance D17 du plan 4, les distances D21 et D17 étant sensiblement égales ;
• lorsqu'un bras 8 est disposé parallèlement à la poutre 3, et, par conséquent, orienté vers le plan vertical médian V (figure 1 en ce qui concerne le bras gauche ; figure 3, figure 4 et figure 5 pour les deux bras), ce bras (ou ces bras) peut être maintenu en appui sur la butée 20 de la poutre 3 au moyen d'attaches amovibles 22 ;
• lorsque les deux bras 8 sont disposés parallèlement à la poutre 3, l'encombrement maximal L13 du dispositif de stabilisation est inférieur et contenu dans la largeur L de l'engin, alors que, lorsque les bras 8 sont disposés obliquement, vers l'extérieur par rapport au plan vertical médian V, l'encombrement maximal L17 est très sensiblement supérieur à la largeur L de l'engin, les extrémités des semelles 17 dépassant au-delà des plans délimitant cet encombrement de l'engin en largeur ;
• dans la position des figures 4, 5 et 6, le dispositif de stabilisation ne réduit aucunement la garde au sol G de l'engin, définie par la plus petite distance du dessous de l'engin par rapport à la surface 4 du sol, du fait que la poutre 3 est alors disposée sensiblement plus haut que la partie la plus basse de l'engin ;
• enfin, lorsqu'un bras 8 est disposé en oblique vers l'extérieur, comme dans la position de la figure 2, son débattement de pivotement est limité par le contact d'une face 23 le délimitant avec une butée 24 dont est munie la poutre 3.

The following structural arrangements can be observed:

• the ends of the arms 8, opposite those by which they are pivotally mounted on the beam 3. are provided with flanges 17 for supporting the arms on the surface 4 of the ground;
• the first connecting rods 12 constrain each axis 11 to describe an arc of a circle relative to the corresponding axis 14, fixed relative to the beam 3;
• the beam 3 can pivot between two extreme positions shown, one in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the other in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the pivot arc separating these positions being approximately equal to 90 ° , and the corresponding pivot placing one (18) of the faces delimiting the beam 3, horizontal and lower in the position of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and, vertical and directed opposite the frame 1, towards the outside of the 'machine, in the position of Figures 4, 5 and 6;
• the maximum clearance (A) of the pivoting of each arm 8 relative to the beam 3 is substantially greater than 90 °, and, in the positions of the beam 3 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, allows each arm 8 to be placed , or substantially parallel to the beam 3, being oriented towards the longitudinal, vertical, median plane V of the machine and having one (19) of the faces defining it resting on the lower face 18 of the beam 3 by by means of a stop 20, so that another face 21 delimiting it, opposite to face 19, either rests on the surface 4 of the ground, or obliquely with respect to the beam 3, being oriented towards the ground and outward with respect to said median plane V so that its sole 17 bears on the surface 4 of the ground;
• in the position of FIG. 1, the arm 8, on the left in the figure, has its face 21 bearing on the surface 4 of the ground and at a distance D21 from the plane 4, while the other arm 8, located on the right in the figure, is supported on the surface 4 by its sole 17, itself located at a distance D17 from the plane 4, the distances D21 and D17 being substantially equal;
• when an arm 8 is arranged parallel to the beam 3, and, consequently, oriented towards the vertical median plane V (FIG. 1 as regards the left arm; FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 for the two arms), this arm (or these arms) can be kept in abutment on the stop 20 of the beam 3 by means of removable fasteners 22;
• when the two arms 8 are arranged parallel to the beam 3, the maximum size L13 of the stabilization device is less and contained in the width L of the machine, whereas, when the arms 8 are arranged obliquely, outwards relative to the median vertical plane V, the maximum size L17 is very substantially greater than the width L of the machine, the ends of the flanges 17 protruding beyond the planes delimiting this size of the machine in width;
• in the position of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the stabilization device in no way reduces the ground clearance G of the machine, defined by the smallest distance from the bottom of the machine relative to the surface 4 of the ground, from fact that the beam 3 is then disposed substantially higher than the lowest part of the machine;
• finally, when an arm 8 is disposed obliquely outwards, as in the position in FIG. 2, its pivoting movement is limited by the contact of a face 23 delimiting it with a stop 24 with which the beam is provided 3.

The advantages of the machine will appear below during the explanation of the various phases of its operation.

First of all, in service, the support polygon obtained can have a very large width 'L17 (Figure 2), and allow obtaining a satisfactory stability of the machine, the arms 8 being firmly supported by their faces 23 on the stops 24 of the beam.

If the size of the terrain of use of the machine does not allow, on one side, or on both sides, to extend the arms 8 outwards, it remains however possible (FIGS. 1 and 3) to put the machine in support, either on a sole 17 and a face 21, or on the two faces 21 of the arms 8, and thus, to obtain a considerable improvement in stability compared to that corresponding to the rest of the machine on the ground via the wheels 2.

In addition, when the stabilization device is not in service, it can be placed (FIGS. 4 and 5) in a position, in which it does not constitute a hindrance as regards the gauge of the machine, nor in width. (L13 less than L), nor in ground clearance (G).

Of course, starting from the out-of-service position of the stabilization device (Figures 4 and 5), it is easy to remove the removable fasteners 22 (or a single fastener 22), then to control the retraction of the jack 10 to orient obliquely outwardly relative to the median vertical plane V, the arms 8 (FIG. 6), to finally control the pivoting of the beam 3 by means of the jack 6 until bearing the flanges 17 of the two arms on the surface 4 off the ground and lift the machine, separating the wheels 2 from the ground (figure 2).

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but on the contrary, it covers all the variants that could be made to it without departing from its scope or its spirit.

Thus, instead of being provided with removable fasteners 22, for holding an arm 8 bearing on the stop 20, the arrangement in accordance with the invention could be provided, for each arm 8, with a complementary connecting rod, pivotally mounted around the axis 9 and having its end provided with a lug capable of occupying two distinct positions: in a first position, the lug is introduced into a housing of this arm around the axis 9 ; and, in a second position, this lug is introduced into a housing formed in the connecting rod 13, between the axes 11 and 15, and, by immobilizing this connecting rod, immobilizes at the same time the arm 8 in the position, for example, of the left arm 8 of figure 1.

Similarly, it is known to use two identical cylinders to control the same element, when this element is large. Thus, instead of the single cylinder 6, it would be possible to provide two identical cylinders to adjust the position of the beam 3. It would also be possible to couple two cylinders in parallel between the axes 11, instead of the single cylinder 10 represented.

Claims (6)

1. Mobile machine comprising a frame (1), a beam (3) mounted on the frame (1) and a stabilizing device comprising at least two arms (8), and in which the following arrangements are adopted :

a) each arm (8) is mounted on the beam (3) for pivotal movement about a pin (9), and each arm is coupled to a first member (10) for adjusting its pivoting with respect to said beam, and supporting a sole plate (17) for abutment on the ground (4), and is movable between two extreme positions of pivoting with respect to the beam, which are separated by an arc of pivoting (A) substantially greater than 90°,

b) the pivot pins (9) of the two arms with respect to the beam are parallel,

c) the beam (3) is mounted to pivot with respect to the frame (1) about an axis (5) which is orthogonal to said pivot pins (9) and said two arms (8),

d) a second member (6) for adjusting the pivoting of the beam (3) with respect to the frame (1) coupled between the beam and the frame,

e) when the beam (3) is placed in the configuration of use of the stabilizing device, in a first of said two extreme positions, each arm is folded beneath the beam, substantially parallel to said beam, and to a first (21) of the faces defining it, which is opposite the beam (3) and which is substantially horizontal and capable of constituting a bearing surface for the arm on the ground (4), distinct from the sole plate (17) of said arm, whereas in the second of said extreme positions, said arm extends obliquely with respect to the beam, its sole plate (17) being spaced apart from the beam (3) and substantially horizontal, the distance (D21) separating said first face (21) of an arm (8) which is placed in its first position with respect to a determined horizontal plane (H) being substantially equal to the distance (D17) separating the sole plate (17) of the same arm (8), which is placed in the second position, with respect to the same determined horizontal plane (H).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first position of an arm, a second (19) face defining it is adjacent the lower face (18) of the beam (3) and is in abutment (20) with said beam.

3. Machine according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first member for adjusting the pivoting of each arm (8) with respect to the beam (3) is constituted by an assembly of two connecting rods (12, 13) forming swing bars, and a pressurized fluid jack (10), a first (12) of these two rods connecting, by means of two pivot pins (11, 14), one end of the jack (10) to the beam (3) and, the second (13) of the two rods connecting, by means of two pivot pins (11, 15), said end of said jack (10) to said arm (8).

4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the ends of the first (12) and of the second (13) connecting rods of the two rods associated with an arm, connected to the same end of the jack (10), are mounted to pivot about a common axis (11).

5. Machine according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the first members for adjusting the pivoting with respect to the beam of the two arms (8) have a common pressurized fluid jack (10), of which a first end is connected to the first and second rods for adjusting the position of a first of said two arms (8), and of which the second end is connected to the first and second rods for adjusting the position of the second of said two arms (8).

6. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in known manner the sole plate (17) supported by each arm (8) is mounted at the end of such arm which is opposite the pivot pin (9) of said arm.

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