GB2527308A

GB2527308A - Light system for machine

Info

Publication number: GB2527308A
Application number: GB1410736.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Heald
Original assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 2014-06-17
Filing date: 2014-06-17
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-17
Also published as: GB201410736D0; GB2527308B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a light system (126, 726) for a machine (100). A light element (202, 702) provided on the machine (100) is prone to physical damage during working of an implement (108) of the machine (100). The present disclosure provides the light system (126, 726) having a shroud (204, 504, 704) configured to selectively cover and protect the light element (202, 702) during working of the implement (108).

Description

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LIGHT SYSTEM FOR MACHINE

Technical Field

100011 The present disclosure relates to a light system, and more specifically to the light system for a machine.

Background

100021 A construction machine includes a working and/or roading light assembly. The light assembly may be provided on various locations on the machine, for example, in a back hoe loader, the light assembly may be provided on stabilizer legs, a linkage assembly, or any other telescopic sliding assemblies of the machine. The light assembly is positioned on the machine such that lights of the light assembly when switched on, are visible during operation of the machine.

100031 However, the light assembly may be prone to physical damage during operation of the machine. For example, during working of an implement of the machine, contact with the implement, and falling of debris or portions of the payload may cause the light assembly to get damaged. In some situations, the light assembly may be protected by using a guard having a mesh structure.

However, the guard may be weak and easily affected by contact or impact with the implement, the failing debris or the payload.

100041 Hence, there is a need to provide an improved light system design for construction machines.

10005] U.S. Patent Number 6,918,689 describes an auxiliary light assembly for a tractor having an implement mounted thereon, The assembly includes a lower support having a plate for attaching to a frame and a hollow cylindrical tube member attached to the plate. The assembly includes an upper support having a housing for holding a lighting device and a support rod member extending from the housing. The rod member is pivotally coupled to the tube member and pivotal about a vertical axis. The assembly includes a detent device for releasably holding the upper support in selected positions relative to the lower support. The detent device includes at least two positions formed in an end of one of the upper and lower support. The other of the upper and lower support has a detent member which is selectively receivable by the recesses. The assembly includes a spring received by and coupled between the tube aiid rod members and biases to urge the tube and rod member towards each other.

Summary of the Disclosure

100061 In one aspect of the present disclosure, a light system for a construction machine is provided. The light system includes a telescopic assembly. The telescopic assembly includes a outer leg. The telescopic assembly also includes a rod telescopingly engaged with the outer leg. The rod is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the outer leg. The light system also includes a light element attached to the telescopic assembly. The light system further includes a shroud provided on the telescopic assembly. The shroud is configured to expose the light element in the retracted position of the telescopic assembly. The shroud is also configured to obscure the light element in the extended position of the telescopic assembly.

[0007] Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 is an exemplary machine, according to an embodiment of the

present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a light assembly in an exposed position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0010] Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the light assembly arid a stabilizer leg of the machine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0011] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the light assembly in a retracted position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0012] Figures 5-8 are perspective views of other embodiments of the light assembly, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

[0013] Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts. Referring to Figure 1, an exemplary construction machine 100, hereinafter referred to as machine 100, is illustrated, More specifically, the machine 100 is a backhoe loader, In other embodiments, the machine 100 may be any other machine related to an industry such as construction, agriculture, forestry, transportation, material handling, waste management, and so on, Accordingly, the machine 100 may be an excavator, a crane, and so on.

[0014] The machine 100 includes a frame 102 or a chassis 102. The frame 102 is configured to support and/or mount one or more components of the machine 100, The machine 100 includes an enclosure 104 provided on the frame 102, The enclosure 104 is configured to house a power source (not shown), The power source may be any power source known in the art including, but not limited to, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and so on, or a combination thereof The power source is configured to provide power to the machine 100 for operational and mobility requirements, The machine 100 includes one or more ground engaging members 106 such as, wheels. The ground engaging members 106 are configured to provide mobility to the machine on ground, [0015] The machine 100 includes an implement 108 coupled to the frame 102 through a linkage assembly 110. The implement 108 may be any implement known in the art, such as a bucket, a blade and so on. The implement 108 may be configured to transfer material, such as soil or debris, from one location to other.

The linkage assembly 110 includes one or more hydraulic and/or pneumatic cylinders 112. The cylinders 112 are configured to raise or lower the linkage assembly 110 and/or the implement 108 with respect to the frame 102 of the machine 100, [0016] The machine 100 includes an operator cabin 114 provided on the frame 102, The operator cabin 114 may include one or more control devices (not shown) such as a,joystick, a steering wheel, pedals, levers, buttons, switches, and so on. The control device is configured to enable the operator to control the machine 100 on the ground and/or the implement 108 as per operational requirements. The operator cabin 114 may also include an operator interface (not shown) such as, a display device, a sound source, a light source, or a combination thereof. The operator interface may be configured to provide information to the operator related to various machine parameters.

100171 The machine 00 includes one or more stabilizer legs 116 coupled to the frame 102. The stabilizer leg 116 is configured to provide support to the machine on the ground and stabilize the machine 100 and reduce movement during operation of the implement 108. The stabilizer leg 116 includes a telescopic assembly 118. The telescopic assembly 118 has an outer leg 120. The outer leg has a hollow, elongated, rectangular configuration. In other embodiments, the outer leg 120 may have any other shape such as, hollow and cylindrical.

100181 The telescopic assembly 118 may have an inner leg 310 (shown in Figure 3) telescopically engaged with the outer leg 120. The inner leg 310 may have a hollow, elongated, rectangular configuration corresponding to the configuration of the outer leg 120. In other embodiments, the inner leg 310 may have any other shape such as, hollow and cylindrical, Further, the stabilizer leg 116 includes a rod 122 telescopically engaged with the outer leg 120. The rod 122 is configured to slidably move between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the outer leg 120. The stabilizer leg 116 also includes a support pad t24. The support pad 124 is affixed to one end of the rod t22. The support pad 124 may have a rectangular plate like configuration. In other embodiments, the support pad 124 may have any other configuration such as, a circular plate like configuration. The support pad 124 is configured to contact the ground and provide support to the machine 100 in the extended position of the rod 122.

100191 The stabilizer leg 116 includes a light system 126 attached to the telescopic assembly 118, The light system 126 will be explained in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 8. Referring to Figures 2 and 4, perspective views of the light system 126 are illustrated. The light system 126 includes a light element 202 attached to the rod 122. The light element 202 may have a rectangular block like configuration. The light e'ement 202 includes a light source (not shown) known in the art, for example, the light source may include a light emitting diode, a filament type bulb, and other similar light emitting components. The light element 202 is configured to enclose the light source therein.

[0020] Referring to Figure 3, a cross sectional view of the light system 126 and the stabilizer leg 116 is illustrated, The light system 26 includes a bracket 302 coupled to the light element 202. The bracket 302 is configured to affix the light element 202 to the rod 122. The bracket 302 may be affixed to the light element 202 by any known fastening means such as, bolting, riveting, welding, and other similar joining techniques. Further, the bracket 302 may be coupled to the rod 122 with a hook arrangement 304, The hook arrangement 304 allows movement of the bracket 302 and the light element 202 together th the rod 122, [0021] The light system 126 may also include a slider block 306. The slider block 306 is provided between the outer leg t20 and the light element 202, The slider block 306 is affixed to the outer leg 120 by any known fastening means such as, bolting, riveting, welding, and so on. The slider block 306 is configured to provide a sliding surface to the light element 202. The outer leg 120 includes a slot 308 provided longitudinally thereon, The slot 308 is provided such that the light element 202 is configured to slide within the slot 308 based on the movement of the rod 122 with respect to the outer leg 120.

[0022] Referring to Figure 2 and 4, the light element 202 includes a shroud 204 attached to the telescopic assembly 118, More specifically, the shroud 204 is attached to the outer leg 120. The shroud 204 may include a first attachment face 206 and a second attachment face 208. The first and second attachment faces 206, 208 are paraliel to one another. The first and second attachment faces 206, 208 are configured to attach the shroud 204 to the outer leg 120. In other embodiments, the shroud 204 may be attached to the outer leg 120 by any one of the first and second attachment faces 206, 208, The first imd/or second attachment faces 206, 208 may be attached to the outer leg 120 by any known fastening means such as bolting, riveting, welding, and so on.

100231 The shroud 204 also includes an outer face 210 connected between the first and second attachment faces 206, 208 such that the shroud 204 has a U-shaped cross section. The first and second attachment faces 206, 208 and the outer face 2t0 define a top open end 212 and a bottom open end 214. The top open end 212 enables extension and retraction of the light element 202 within the shroud 204 based on the movement of the rod 122 with respect to the outer leg 120. The bottom open end 214 allows debris that may have collected within the shroud 204 to fall off therefrom.

100241 The shroud 204 is sized based on a shape and/or a dimension of the light element 202. Also, the shroud 204 is positioned on the outer leg 120 such that the shroud 204 is located below the light element 202 in the retracted position of the rod 122 (shown in Figure 2). More specifically, the shroud 204 is sized and positioned such that the shroud 204 may expose the light element 202 in the retracted position of the rod 122 (shown in Figure 2). Further, the shroud 204 is sized and positioned such that the shroud 204 may either obscure or completely cover the light element 202 in the extended position of the rod 122 (shown in Figure 4). In some embodiments, the light element 202 may include a lid 216 provided on a top surface of the light element 202. The lid 216 is configured to cover the top open end 212 of the shroud 204 when the light element 202 may retract within the shroud 204 in the extended position of the rod 122 (shown in Figure 2). It should be noted that a shape of the shroud 204 described herein is merely exemplary and may vary as per system design and configuration. For example, the shroud 204 may have any other cross section, such as, trapezoidal, cylindrical, and so on.

100251 Referring to Figures 5 and 6, perspective views of the light system 126 showing another embodiment of the shroud 504 is illustrated. The shroud 504 is oversized with respect to the dimension of the light element 202. More specifically, a height "111" of the shroud 504 is approximately twice a height "H2" of the light element 202. In such a situation, the shroud 504 may have an upper portion 506 and a lower portion 508, The outer face 510 of the upper portion 506 has an opening 512 provided thereon. As shown in Figure 5, the opening 512 is provided such that the light element 202 is exposed through the opening 512 in the retracted position of the rod 122. Further, as shown in Figure 6, in the extended position of the rod 122, the light element 202 slides downward within the shroud 504 and is completely covered by the lower portion 508 of the shroud 504.

[0026] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, perspective views of yet another embodiment of the light system 726 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the light element 702 is fixedly attached to the outer leg 120. Further, the shroud 704 is attached to the rod 122. More specifically, the first and/or second attachment faces 706, 708 of the shroud 704 are provided within a slot (not shown) and affixed to the rod 122. The slot is provided longitudinally in the outer leg 120 such that the first and/or second attachment faces 706, 708 of the shroud 704 are configured to slide within the slot based on the movement of the rod 122 with respect to the outer leg 120. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 7, the shroud 704 is positioned above the light element 702 such that the shroud 704 exposes the light element 702 in the retracted position of the rod 122. Further, as shown in Figure 8, the shroud 704 is configured to slide downwards along with the rod 122 and cover the light element 702 in the retracted position of the rod 122.

[0027] The shroud 204, 504, 704 may be made of any metal or alloy known in the art such as steel. In other embodiments, the shroud 204, 504, 704 may be made of any polymer known in the art as per system design and requirements.

The shroud 204, 504, 704 may be formed by any manufacturing process known in the art such as stamping, bending, forging, and other similar manufacturing processes. It should be noted that a configuration of the light system 126, 726 disclosed herein is merely exemplary and may not limit scope of the disclosure.

Further, modifications may be made to the light system 126, 726 disclosed herein without any limitation.

[0028] The light system 126, 726 of the present disclosure provides an easy to manufacture and robust design for protection of the light element 202, 702. The light system 126, 726 may be easily incorporated without any need of significant design changes to the machine 100.

Industrial Applicability

[0029] The working of the light system 126, 726 will now be explained in detail. Before operating the implement 108, the machine 100 may be required to be stationary. Accordingly, the machine 100 is brought to a halt. In this state of the machine 100, the rod 122 of the stabilizer leg 116 may be in the retracted position. In thc retracted position of the rod 122, the light system 126, 726 is positioned such that the light element 202, 702 is exposed.

[0030] Further, during working of the implement 108, the rod 122 of the stabilizer leg 116 may be extended such that the support pad 124 may rest on the ground and support the machine 100 thereon. In the extended position of the rod 122, the light system 126, 726 is positioned such that the light element 202, 702 is covered by the shroud 204, 504, 704, thereby protecting the light element 202, 702 from physical damage. In this position of the light system 126, 726, light from the light element 202, 702 is obscured or blocked.

[0031] While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed, Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as detennined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1, A light system for a construction machine, the light system comprising: a telescopic assembly comprising: a outer leg; and a rod telescopingly engaged with the outer leg, the rod configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the outer leg; a light element attached to the telescopic assembly; and a shroud provided on the telescopic assembly, wherein the shroud is configured to: expose the light element in the retracted position of the telescopic assembly; and obscure the light element in the extended position of the telescopic assembly.
2. The light system of claim 1, wherein the shroud is attached to the outer leg.
3. The light system of claim 2, wherein the light element is attached to the rod.
4. The light system of claim 3, wherein the outer leg further includes a slot provided thereon, such that the light element is configured to slide within the slot based on the movement of the rod with respect to the outer leg.
5. The light system of claim 3, wherein the shroud is positioned on the outer leg such that the shroud is located below the light element in the retracted position.
6. The light system of claim 1, wherein the shroud is attached to the rod.
7. The light system of claim 6, wherein the light element is attached to the outer leg.
8, The light system of claim 7, wherein the outer leg further includes a slot provided thereon, such that the shroud is configured to slide within the slot based on the movement of the rod with respect to the outer leg.
9. The light system of claim 7, wherein the shroud is positioned on the outer leg such that the shroud is located above the light element in the retracted position.
10. The light system of claim 1, wherein the shroud includes: two attachment faces; and an outer face connected between the two attachment faces, such that the shroud defines a top open end and a bottom open end.
11. The light system of claim 10, wherein the outer face has an opening provided thereon, such that the light element is exposed through the opening in the retracted position.
U. The light system of claim I, wherein the shroud has a U-shaped cross section.
13. The light system of claim 1, wherein the shroud is sized based on a dimension of the light element.
14. The light system of claim 1, wherein the shroud is configured to completely cover the light element in the extended position.
15. The light system of claim 1, wherein the shroud is made of at least one of a metal or a polymer.-II-6. A stabilizer leg of the construction machine using the light system of claim 1.