GB2548784A

GB2548784A - Ripper frame assembly with lubricant conduit

Info

Publication number: GB2548784A
Application number: GB1522347.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A Oskin Artem
Original assignee: Caterpillar SARL
Current assignee: Caterpillar SARL
Priority date: 2015-12-18
Filing date: 2015-12-18
Publication date: 2017-10-04
Also published as: GB201522347D0

Abstract

A ripper frame assembly (12) for a track-type tractor comprising at least one first arm 24 and at least one second arm (46). Each of the first arm and the second arm includes a first side (26) having a first member (28) and a second member (48) that are coupled to a ripper tool. Each of the first arm and the second arm includes a second side (30) having a third member 32 containing a first hole 34 and a fourth member 50 containing a second hole 52. A pin 36 is disposed coaxially between the first and the second holes, and adapted to mount the ripper frame assembly on the track-type tractor (10). An inlet 58 of conduit 60 adapted to receive lubricant and the conduit defines a passage for lubricant to flow so that the pin receives lubricant on its surface.

Description

Description RIPPER FRAME ASSEMBLY WITH LUBRICANT CONDUIT Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates to a ripper frame assembly, and more specifically, to the ripper frame assembly with a lubricant conduit.

Background [0002] Track-type tractors are employed in various operations, such as mining, or ripping operations. For this purpose, a ripper tool is provided in a track-type tractor which is utilized to loosen hardened ground, break up rock formations etc. The ripper tool is mounted on the track-type tractor using a ripper frame to which a ripper tool is connected at one end. The other end of the ripper frame is connected to the track-type tractor using a pin. In order to avoid excessive wear of the pin, a surface of the pin requires lubrication, and is generally lubricated with either conduit or oil.

[0003] Currently, lubrication is provided to the pin by lubrication hoses. The lubrication hoses are connected to the ripper frame, and therefore are vulnerable to collisions with rocks while a machine is operating. For example, in a machine such as a bulldozer, a ripper frame assembly has a lubricant hose which extends downwards from a ripper frame. During the operations, when the ripper frame brushes on uneven ground, the lubricant hose can get damaged. The damage in the lubricant hose prevents the lubricant to reach to the surface of the pin, and thus leads to excessive wear of the pin. Therefore, there is a need for a lubrication system that is not damaged while the machine is operating.

[0004] US Patent Number 5799950 discloses a lubricating joint with equalizing pressure zone. The reference discloses an equalizer bar having a pin which is slidably disposed within a bore of a bearing assembly for movable connection to the equalizer bar to define a pin joint assembly. The reference further discloses a conduit zerk with a head and a tapered threaded body which is partially disposed within a receiving passage. The conduit zerk provides a means for allowing a lubricating fluid such as lubricating conduit or oil, to be directed into the pin joint assembly through the receiving passage and a conduit passage by a conduit pump. However, the conduit supply arrangement provided in the reference relates to an equalizer bar, and is not suitable for lubricating the pin of a lower riper frame. Therefore, there is a need for a lubrication system suitable for use in a lower ripper frame of a track-type tractor that is not damaged during normal working conditions of a machine.

Summary of the Invention [0005] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a ripper frame assembly for a track-type tractor is provided. The ripper frame assembly includes at least one first arm and at least one second arm. Each of the at least one first arm and the at least one second arm includes a first side having a first member and a second member. Each of the first member and the second member is coupled to a ripper tool. A second side having a third member and a fourth member. The third member having a first hole, and the fourth member having a second hole. A pin is extending through the first hole and the second hole, and is disposed coaxially with the first hole and the second hole. The pin is adapted to mount the ripper frame assembly on the track-type tractor. An inlet is adapted to receive a lubricant. A conduit is adapted to define a passage along a length the conduit for the lubricant to flow therethrough. The conduit is in fluid communication with the inlet, and is adapted to receive the lubricant through the inlet. The pin is adapted to receive the lubricant through the conduit on a surface of the pin.

[0006] Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of a track-type tractor with a ripper frame assembly, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; [0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the ripper frame assembly with a ripper tool, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; [0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ripper frame assembly, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; [0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first arm of the ripper frame assembly, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and [0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the first arm of ripper frame assembly, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description [0012] Referring to FIG. 1 a track-type tractor 10 includes a ripper frame assembly 12, a ripper tool 14, a first hydraulic cylinder 16, a first clevis 18, a second clevis 20, and a second hydraulic cylinder 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the ripper frame assembly 12 has at least one first arm 24 having a first side 26. The first side 26 having a first member 28. The detailed description of the ripper frame assembly 12 is described later in conjunction with FIG. 3. The ripper tool 14 mounted on the track-type tractor 10 is utilized for various operations such as ripping operations. The track-type tractor 10 further includes various other components such as cabin, track shoes, rollers and idlers etc. For the purpose of simplicity, the various other components of the track-type tractor 10 are not labeled in FIG. 1.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, the ripper frame assembly 12 includes the first arm 24 having the first member 28 on the first side 26. The first arm 24 includes a second side 30. The second side 30 includes a third member 32 that includes a first hole 34. A pin 36 is disposed within the first hole 34 present on the second side 30 of the first arm 24. The ripper frame assembly 12 is mounted on the track type tractor 10 using the pin 36. The detailed description of the ripper frame assembly 12 is described later in conjunction with FIG. 3. The first member 28 is coupled to the ripper tool 14. Further, the track-type tractor 10 includes the first hydraulic cylinder 16 having a first end 38 and a second end 40. The first hydraulic cylinder 16 is attached to the ripper frame assembly 12 at the first end 38 and to the first clevis 18 at the second end 40. Similarly, the track-type tractor 10 includes the second hydraulic cylinder 22 having a first end 42 and a second end 44. The second hydraulic cylinder 22 is attached to the ripper tool 14 at the first end 42 and to the track type tractor 10 using the second clevis 20 at the second end 44. Each of the first hydraulic cylinder 16 and the second hydraulic cylinder 22 are adapted to move the ripper tool 14 during the various ripping operations.

[0014] As an example, during the ripping operations such as, but not limited to, to loosen hardened ground, break up rock formations etc., the ripper tool 14 attached to the ripper frame assembly 12 is utilized. The ripper tool 14 is required to direct with a force in variety of orientation during various ripping operation. The first hydraulic cylinder 16 is coupled to the ripper assembly 12 and the second hydraulic cylinder 22 is coupled to the ripper tool 14 are used to adjust the desired orientation of the ripper tool 14. The first hydraulic cylinder 16 and the second hydraulic cylinder 22 achieve the desire orientation of the ripper tool 14 by varying the length of the first hydraulic cylinder 16 either by extension or contraction of the length of the first hydraulic cylinder 16. Similarly, simultaneously varying the length of the second hydraulic cylinder 22 either by extension or contraction of the length of the second hydraulic cylinder 22. The height of the ripper tool 14 can also be adjusted by varying the direction of the first hydraulic cylinder 16 and the direction of the second hydraulic cylinder 22. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the various operations of the track-type tractor 10 with the ripper frame assembly 12 mentioned-above have been provided only for illustration purposes. The track-type tractor 10 with the ripper frame assembly 12 is utilized for various other operations such as mining etc. as well, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, the ripper frame assembly 12, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. The ripper frame assembly 12 includes the first arm 24 and at least one second arm 46. Each of the first arm 24 and the second arm 46 has the first side 26 and the second side 30. The first side 26 includes the first member 28 and a second member 48. The first member 28 and the second member 48 at the first side 26 of the first arm 24 and are adapted to attach to the ripper tool 14. The second side 30 has the third member 32 and a fourth member 50. Each of the third member 32 and the fourth member 50 has the first hole 34 and a second hole 52 respectively. It should be noted that the ripper frame assembly 12 may include more than two arms as well, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The pin 36 is inserted in the first hole 34 and the second hole 52. The pin 36 is disposed coaxially within the first hole 34, and the second hole 52. The pin 36 includes a surface 54 and a number of holes 56 on the surface 54.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the first arm 24, includes a first inlet 58, a first conduit 60, and an outlet 62. The pin 36 includes a second inlet 64, a second conduit 66. The second conduit 66 ends on the surface 54 at holes 56. The outlet 62 is placed in close proximity to the second inlet 64. The first conduit 60 defines a passage for the flow of the lubricant along the length of the first conduit 60 inside the arm 24. The first conduit 60 is in fluid communication with the first inlet 58 and the outlet 62. The second conduit 66 defines a passage for flow of the lubricant along the length of the second conduit 66 inside the pin 36. The second conduit 66 is in fluid communication with the second inlet 64 and holes 56. During the operation of the track-type tractor 10, the pin 36 requires lubrication on the surface 54. The first conduit 60 is adapted to receive the lubricant through the first inlet 58 and is adapted to supply the lubricant to the second inlet 64 through the outlet 62. The lubricant supplied to the first inlet 58 flows through the first conduit 60 and exits out of the outlet 62 into the second inlet 64 of the pin 36. The lubricant received at the second inlet 64 further flows through the second conduit 66 and exits on the surface 54 through the holes 56. The lubricant, therefore, reaches a bearing 68 of a machine frame 70 of the track-type tractor 10, which is used to mount the ripper fame assembly 12 on to the track-type tractor 10.

[0017] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the first arm 24 may include more than one the first inlet 58, the first conduit 60, and the outlet 62. The first inlet 58 may be adapted to receive the lubricant from a number of lubricant supplying devices such as, but not limited, to lubricant gun. Further, the first inlet 58 can be equipped with number of lubricant inlet mechanisms such as, but not limited to lubricant nipples that enable lubricant feeding guns supply lubricant into the first inlet 58. Further, the shape and the placement of the first conduit 60 and the second conduit 66 is exemplary and may be varied without departing from the meaning and scope of the present disclosure. Also, placement of holes 56 on the surface 54 is exemplary and may be varied without departing from the meaning and scope of the present disclosure.

Industrial Applicability [0018] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the present disclosure provides the ripper frame assembly 12 with a lubrication system. The ripper frame assembly 12 includes the first arm 24 and the second arm 46, each of the first arm 24 and the second arm 46, includes the first side 26 and the second side 30. The second side 30 includes the third member 32 including the first hole 34 and the fourth member 50 including the second hole 52. The pin 36 disposed coaxially in the first hole 34 and the second hole 52. Each arm further includes the first inlet 58, the first conduit 60, and the outlet 62. The outlet 62 is placed in close proximity to the second inlet 64. The lubricant supplied to the first inlet 58 flows through the first conduit 60, and the outlet 62 into the second inlet 64. The lubricant received at the second inlet 64 further flows through the second conduit 66 and exits on the surface 54 through the holes 56. Such type of the lubrication system eliminates the need for separate lubrication hose for the lubrication of the surface 54 of the pin 36. The removal of lubrication hoses also eliminates the problem of lack of lubrication when the lubrication hoses are damaged. The lubrication system i.e. the first inlet 58, the first conduit 60, and the outlet 62, is disposed within the one or more of the first arm 24 and the second arm 46 of the ripper frame assembly 12. The current lubrication mechanism is more robust and less susceptible to damage during operation of the track-type tractor 10.

[0019] 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 determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:
1. A ripper frame assembly, for a track-type tractor comprising: at least one first arm and at least one second arm, each of the at least one first arm and the at least one second arm including: a first side having a first member and a second member, each of the first member and the second member is coupled to a ripper tool; a second side having a third member and a fourth member, the third member having a first hole and the fourth member having a second hole; a pin extending through the first hole and the second hole, the pin being disposed coaxially with the first hole and the second hole, the pin adapted to mount the ripper frame assembly on the track-type tractor; an inlet adapted to receive a lubricant; and a conduit adapted to define a passage along a length of the conduit for the lubricant to flow therethrough, the conduit being in fluid communication with the inlet, and adapted to receive the lubricant through the inlet; wherein the pin is adapted to receive the lubricant through the conduit on a surface of the pin.