GB2604148A

GB2604148A - Bar handle storage apparatus for working machines

Info

Publication number: GB2604148A
Application number: GB2102755.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Isaac James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-02-26
Filing date: 2021-02-26
Publication date: 2022-08-31
Also published as: GB202102755D0

Abstract

A storage apparatus 11 comprises a conduit 12 having an open end 13 for receiving a bar or release handle comprising a pipe or bar section, a restriction means to prevent the handle passing through the conduit, and connection means 21 for connecting the conduit to a working machine 2 such as a digger or micro-digger, the connection means attaching to the working machine such that the open end is at the top of the conduit. The connection means may comprise a clamp 18, a flange 17 and/or a rubber gripping section. A second connection means may attach to a second section of the working machine. The restriction means may comprise a reduction to the inner diameter of the conduit, a bolt through holes in opposing sides of the conduit, or a collar attached to the handle. A method of storing a handle comprises attaching the storage apparatus to a working machine and inserting the handle into the storage apparatus.

Description

Description of Invention

Working machines such as excavation machines, for example diggers or micro-diggers, are well known in the art. A digger typically includes a working arm attached to an implement by a coupling mechanism. A micro-digger is essentially the same but smaller, preferably so as to fit through typical domestic doorways. Diggers and micro diggers typically have upright sections providing support for a safety bar or rop, and these rops may be foldable to allow the machine to access entrances with height restrictions.

Quick release couplings are well known in the art, as disclosed in US6422805B1. A manual quick release coupling may include a bar handle or release handle which has to be inserted into an aperture in the coupling, so that when downward pressure is applied to the end of the bar, the sprung coupling releases an attachment. It may also be used to attach an attachment to the coupling mechanism.

The bar handle must then be removed from the coupling and stored whilst the attachment is in use. There is known in the art handle storage devices, such as the "Bar Holder apparatus" produced by Rhinox Group. Along flat plate has a small perpendicular flange at one end, with a hole provided in the flange to locate one end of the bar, and a cable and lynch pin provided to secure the bar along it's length.

This suffers some disadvantages: The device requires two hands to operate it, one to hold the bar, the other to use the lynch pin; the lynch pin may become lodged between moving parts of the working machine, or may be lost if the cable breaks; the length of the device may prevent it being attached to the smaller upright posts on small or micro diggers. Further still, the prior art does not provide adequate clearance between the Bar and plate to allow attachment to the inward facing side of the rops uprights, as they would prevent the action of the foldable section of the working machine which allows die rops to be folded down.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a storage apparatus comprising a conduit, the conduit having an open end for receiving a handle comprising a pipe or bar section, a restriction means to prevent the handle falling through the conduit, and connection means for connecting the conduit to a working machine, the connection means attaching to the working machine such that the open end is at the top of the conduit Preferably connection means provides a gap between the handle and the working machine of at least 40mm. This may allow a typical rops folding mechanism of a working machine to operate whilst the storage device is connected to the working machine.

Preferably the gap between the conduit and the section of working machine is at least 50mm, and more preferably at least 60mm. More preferably still, the gap is at least 70mm The handle may be used to manually operate a quick coupler.

In one embodiment, the connection means attaches to a generally upright section of the working machine, for example a support for a rops or roll bar.

In a preferred embodiment, the connection means comprises a clamp. The clamp may reach around the upright section of the working machine.

In another preferred embodiment, the connection means further comprises a flange. The flange may be clamped to the upright section of the working machine.

Preferably the connection means further comprises gripping means, for example a rubber section, so as to securely clamp to the generally upright section of working machine.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second connection means is provided 45 which attaches to a second section of the working machine.

In this preferred embodiment, the furthest distance between a contact point of the first connection means and the working machine, and a contact point of the second attachment means and the working machine, is no greater than 50cm and more preferably no greater than 40cm.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conduit is long enough to prevent the 50 handle falling out of the conduit when the working machine is in use. The conduit may preferably be at least 20cm long, and more preferably be at least 30cm long. More preferably still the conduit may be at least 40cm long, and even more preferably at least 45cm long.

By virtue of the present invention, the bar is held in the conduit by gravity, so there is no need for a lynch pin or equivalent regularly moving part. Furthermore, the gap between the conduit and the 55 working machine allows for the folding mechanism to work without removing the storage device.

In one preferred embodiment, the restriction means comprises a reduction to the inner dimension of the conduit, for example a reduced inner diameter if the conduit is a tube. This may be a provided by washer with a centre hole smaller than the inner width of the conduit, or for example a bolt through holes in opposite sides of the conduit, such that the bolt prevents the handle moving beyond the bolt. In a preferred embodiment, extra side holes are provided in the conduit, such that the bolt can be positioned to better accommodate different length handles.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the restriction means comprises a collar attached to the bar, the collar being wider than the open end of the conduit.

Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-FIG. 1 is an illustrative side view of a micro digger as known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative side view of a bar handle used to manually operate a quick coupler as known in the art.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative side view of a storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative side view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of preferable dimensions for alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a working machine known as an excavating machine or micro digger. The rops bar shown generally at 1 includes generally upright sections 2,3,4 and 5. Other rops bar configurations are possible, for example a single rops bar extending upwards from one side the working machine, transversally over the operators seat above the operator, and returning back down to the opposite side of the working machine. A quick coupler 6 is shown connecting a bucket attachment 7 to the working arm 8 of the micro digger.

To open or close the coupler 6 and change the attachment 7, a handle such as a bar handle 9 as shown in Figure 2 may be used. The bar handle 9 may comprise a grip section 10 and bar section 11. In use, the bar handle 9 is connected to an aperture in the coupler 6. When not in use, the bar handle 9 must be disconnected from the coupler 6 and stowed away.

With reference to Figure 3, a storage apparatus 11 in accordance with the present invention is shown attached to the upright 2 of the micro digger. It should be noted that the storage apparatus 11 may be attached to any generally upright structure of the micro digger, for example the uprights shown in 3,4 and 5 of Figure 1. For the purposes of the present invention, a 'generally upright' section is deemed to be any vertical structure such as a rops pole, or within 30 degrees of the vertical.

The storage apparatus 11 comprises a conduit 12, a first supporting means 15 being a rectangular cross sectioned support beam 15, and first connection means shown generally at 16.

A second supporting means 20 and connection means 21 is also shown, similar to the first connection means 16 and first supporting means 15 as described below, but connected further down the conduit 12.

The conduit in this example is a cylinder with an open end 13 and a restricted end 14. The conduit 95 12 is 30cm long, and the restricted end 14 has a reduced opening compared to the open end 13 of the conduit 12 as it has a metal washer welded to the base of the conduit 12.

The connection means 16 comprises a rectangular section of cylinder wall 17, attached to the support beam 15 and extending vertically from the support beam to form a flange 17.

The connection means further comprises a damp 18 such as one commonly known as an exhaust clamp, die clamp reaching around the flange 17, the upright 2, and tightened with bolts 19.

In use, the bar handle 9 is placed into the open end 13 of the conduit 12 and rests on the restricted end 14.

With reference to Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. It can be seen that a second support means 20 and second connection means 21 are not required. In this example the flange 17 is longer.

Figure 4 also shows an alternative restriction means being a bolt 22 between two holes in the sidewall of the conduit 12. The invention is further improved by extra side holes 23 -26 allowing for the bolt 22 to be set at different length of the conduit.

Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention, where the conduit 12 is shorter, and the restriction means comprises the upward face of the conduit 12, which abuts a collar fitted around the bar handle 9. The collar 27 is wider than the conduit 12.

Although a collar 27 is shown in Figure 5, the restriction means of the present invention can alternatively be anything which makes a width of the bar handle 9 wider than a section the conduit 12.

Also shown in Figure 5 is an alternate connection means 16 in accordance with the present invention. The clamp such as an exhaust clamp is welded to the support beam 15, and tightened around the upright 2 using bolts 19.

Although only one connection means 16 is shown in Figure 5, it is envisaged that a second similar connection means could be provided on designs with a longer conduit 12.

Figure 6 provides preferred dimensions of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The distance X between the conduit 12 and the upright 2 is at least 50mm, and more preferably at least 60mm Preferably the clearance Y between the first support means 15 and the second support means 20 is at least 20 cm, and more preferably at least 30 cm.

Preferably the maximum vertical distance Z between the contact points of the connection means 16 where they contact the upright 2, is at most 45cm and more preferably at most 40 cm.

In one preferred embodiment, the minimum length A of the conduit 12 is at least 20 cm, more preferably at least 30 cm, even more preferably 40cm, and more preferably still 45cm.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. A storage apparatus comprising a conduit, the conduit having an open end for receiving a handle comprising a pipe or bar section, a restriction means to prevent the handle passing through the conduit, and connection means for connecting the conduit to a working machine, the connection means attaching to the working machine such that the open end is at the top of the conduit 2. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means provides a gap between the handle and the working machine of at least 40mm.3. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means provides a gap between the handle and the working machine of at least 50mm.4. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means provides a gap between the handle and the working machine of at least 60mm.5. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means provides a gap between 145 the handle and the working machine of at least 75mm.6. A storage apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection means attaches to a generally upright section of the working machine.7. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection means further comprises a clamp.8. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection means further comprises a flange.9. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection means further comprises a nthber gripping section for contacting the working machine..10. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second connection means is provided which attaches to a second section of the working machine.11. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the furthest distance between a contact point of the first connection means and the working machine, and a contact point of the second attachment means and the working machine, is no greater than 50cm.12. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the furthest distance between a contact 160 point of the first connection means and the working machine, and a contact point of the second attachment means and the working machine, is no greater than 40cm.13. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit is at least 20cm long.14. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit is at least 30cm long.15. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit is at least 40cm long.16. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit is at least 45cm long.17. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the restriction means comprises a reduction to the inner dimension of the conduit.18. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the restriction means comprises a washer.19. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit further comprises a pair of side holes on opposite sides of the conduit, and the restriction means further comprises a bolt through the pair of side holes.20. A storage apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the conduit further comprises a second set of side holes for receiving the bolt.21. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the restriction means comprises a collar attached to the handle.22. A method of storing a handle comprising a pipe or bar section on a working machine, comprising the steps of attaching a storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims to the working machine, and inserting the handle into the storage apparatus.23. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims as described herein and with reference to any one of the attached drawings.