JP2002097658A - Stabilizing linkage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stabilizing linkage device effective in preventing lateral movement of a blade associated with a machine. SOLUTION: When the stabilizing device is used between the machine and the blade, the blade can rotate over a greater angle and the performance of the machine is improved. The stabilizing linkage device includes a mounted structure mounted to the blade and extending in the direction of the machine. A link is connected to the machine and extends in the direction of the blade. The extension of the link includes a spherical assembly adjacent the mounted structure. A coupling device couples the link to the mounted structure. This coupling enables rotation of the blade over an even greater angle while preventing lateral movement of the blade relative to the machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to bulldozers and the like having laterally extending blades, and more particularly to a stabilizing linkage assembly mounted between a machine and a blade to permit large-angle blade rotation. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a blade of an earthmoving machine is pivotally mounted in front of a push arm extending rearward and pivotally connected to a track roller frame. The problem of the resistive side loading of the blade is well known in the art, and several stabilizing links have been proposed as a solution. U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,941 assigned to the present applicant
No. 1,196 discloses a stabilizing link connecting between a machine and a push arm. However, providing a link to the push arm creates an undesirable load path and stresses the push arm. The patent also discloses a stabilizer link connecting the machine to a ball mounted on a blade.

[0003]

However, this device does not allow the rotation of the blade at a desired angle to achieve an appropriate soil movement. The present invention addresses one or more of the above problems.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the invention, a stabilizer is connected between an earthmoving machine and a ground blade. The blade is pivotally connected to a pair of push arms mounted on the machine. The stabilization device has a first end and a second end having an end surface. The first end is connected to the machine. The second end has a spherical assembly attached to the end face. The mounting structure is connected to the blade and extends in the machine direction. A connecting structure is provided for connecting the spherical assembly of links to the mounting structure. The coupling structure and the spherical assembly are in line.

[0005] The present invention provides a stabilizing device for connecting between a machine and a blade. The stabilizer applies a load force to the blade that prevents the blade from moving laterally,
Allows blade rotation at large angles. The apparatus includes a mounting structure and a coupling structure mounted thereon so that the blade can rotate about the ball assembly of the stabilizing link. That is, this structure provides a link between the machine and the blade, while allowing the blade to rotate at a large angle to improve machine performance.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a machine 10 includes a truck 12, an engine compartment 14, and an operator station indicated generally at 16. Horizontal blade 1
8 is located adjacent to the front end of the machine. The blade 18 is attached to the machine by a trunnion mount 22.
And a second side pivotally connected to the conventional track roller frame and supported by the front ends of laterally spaced push arms 20. Blade 1
8 is pivotally connected at 24 to the front end of the push arm. The first hydraulic actuator 26
The second hydraulic actuator 28 is connected between the blade 18 and the tip of one push arm 20 and the second hydraulic actuator 28 is connected between the blade 18 and the tip of the other push arm. Hydraulic actuators 26 and 28 are operable to rotate the blade about pivot joint 24 to change the pitch of the blade. Blade 18
Is raised and lowered by a conventional hydraulic actuator 30 having a rod supported on the engine housing and pivotally connected at 32 to the back of the blade.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a stabilizing linkage assembly 34 is connected between the machine 10 and the blade 18. The linkage assembly 34 includes a mounting structure 36 mounted to the back of the blade, a coupling assembly 38 removably mounted to the mounting structure 36, and extends laterally of the machine substantially parallel to the blades, and extends between the machine and the coupling assembly. And a stabilizing link 40, ie, a tag link, which is connected between the control link and the link. The coupling assembly 38 and the stabilizing link are in line.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting structure 36 includes a vertical plate 41 that is welded to the back of the blade and extends from the blade 18 in the machine direction. The first horizontal plate 42 is welded to the back of the blade and to the upper end of the vertical plate 41. The second horizontal plate 43 is welded to the back of the blade and to the lower end of the vertical plate 41. The vertical plate 41 has a large opening 44 for receiving the coupling assembly 38 and a plurality of small openings 46 spaced around the large opening 44.

The coupling assembly 38 includes first and second caps 48 and 50 and a plurality of fasteners, such as bolts 52, for coupling the coupling assembly 30 and the link 40 to the mounting structure 36. The first cap 48 is attached to the vertical plate 4
It has an annular flange 54 of reduced diameter sized to be inserted into one opening and a surface 56 in contact with the vertical plate 41. A plurality of openings 58 are disposed about annular flange 54 and a plurality of small openings 46 in vertical plate 41.
And on a straight line. First end cap 48 includes an annular concave inner surface 60. The second cap 50 includes a plurality of openings 62. The opening 62 is in line with the opening 58 in the first cap and the opening 46 in the vertical plate 41. Second
Has an annular concave inner surface 64. Bolts 52 are inserted into openings 46, 58, 62 to attach coupling assembly 38 to mounting bracket 36.

The stabilizing link 40 includes a first end 66 removably connected to the machine frame and a second end 68 extending in a blade direction. Second end 68 includes an end surface 70 for receiving spherical assembly 72. Spherical assembly 72 includes an extension pin 74 aligned with link 40.
And the extension pin 74 is connected to the end face 70 of the
And a second end 78 having an end face 80. The plurality of screw holes 82 are provided on the end surface 8.
It is provided at intervals around zero. Counterbore 86
Is disposed on the second end 68 of the link 40. The counterbore is in line with extension pin 74. The spherical member 84 includes a face 88 on the bottom surface of the counterbore 86 that contacts the end face 80 of the pin 74, and further includes an end face 90. A plurality of holes 92 extend from end surface 90 to surface 88. The threaded holes 82 in the extension pins are aligned with the holes 92. A plurality of fasteners, such as bolts 94, extend through holes 92 and are threaded into threaded holes 82 of pins 74 to secure spherical member 84 to the stabilizing link. Spherical member 84 includes an annular convex outer surface 96 that contacts concave surfaces 60 and 64 of caps 48 and 50. This abutment limits lateral movement of the blade relative to the machine, but allows rotation of the blade about the spherical member 84.

In the application of the present invention, an earthmoving machine 10 having blades mounted sideways is used for moving soil and the like. The blade is pivotally connected to the push arm 20 at 24. The mounting structure 36 is welded to the back of the blade and extends in the direction of the machine. A stabilizing linkage 34 is mounted on the machine and extends toward the mounting structure. Coupling assembly 38 attaches stabilizing link 34 to the mounting structure and prevents lateral movement of the blade relative to the machine, but allows rotation of mounting structure about spherical assembly 72. During operation of the machine, the stabilizing linkage device can prevent lateral movement of the blade relative to the tractor. The spherical assembly can abut the coupling assembly mounted on the mounting structure to prevent movement. When the operator wants to change the pitch of the blade, the first and second hydraulic actuators are activated. This action causes the blade to rotate about pivot connection 24. Similarly,
The coupling assembly and mounting structure also rotate about the spherical assembly 72 of the stabilizing link 40.

From the foregoing, it can be readily appreciated that the structure of the present invention provides a stabilizing linkage assembly mounted between a machine and a blade, while permitting rotational movement of the blade at large angles. . The stabilizing link assembly having a spherical link between the link and the blade mount allows the blade to rotate at a greater angle.

[0013] Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by a review of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a machine with a laterally extending blade having a stabilizing link extending between the machine and the blade to block lateral forces on the blade.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor William H. Zimmerman 61526-9744 Edelstein West Hicks Hollow Road 916 F-term (reference) 3J105 AA22 CA33

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A stabilizing device coupled between an earthmoving machine and a ground blade pivotally connected to a pair of push arms attached to the earthmoving machine, the stabilizer having a first end and an end surface. A stabilizing link having a second end, a first end removably connected to the machine, and a second end aligned with the stabilizing link and attached to the end face. A stabilizing link having a spherical assembly, the mounting structure being attached to the blade and extending in the machine direction, and a connecting structure for connecting the spherical assembly of the link to the mounting structure. A stabilizing device, wherein the connecting structure and the spherical assembly are aligned. 2. The spherical assembly includes an extension pin that is in line with the stabilization link, the extension pin having a first end attached to the end face of the stabilization link, and a second end. The stabilizing linkage device of claim 1, comprising an end. 3. A stabilizing link and a spherical member having a counterbore in alignment with the extension pin, wherein the counterbore is disposed about a second end of the extension pin of the stabilization link. 3. A stabilizing linkage device according to claim 2, wherein the stabilizing linkage device is dimensioned such that: 4. The stabilizing linkage device of claim 3, wherein the spherical member includes an annular convex outer surface disposed about the counterbore and at a second end of the extension pin. . 5. The stabilizing linkage device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure includes an opening for receiving the second end of the stabilizing link. 6. The stabilizing linkage device according to claim 5, wherein the connecting structure includes first and second caps arranged to connect the stabilizing link to the mounting structure. 7. A stabilizing linkage device according to claim 6, wherein said first cap is disposed around said spherical member adjacent said mounting structure. 8. The stabilizing linkage device according to claim 7, wherein the second cap is disposed around the spherical member adjacent to the first cap. 9. The stabilizing linkage device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of fasteners for attaching the first and second caps to the attachment structure. 10. The stabilizing linkage device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second caps include an annular concave inner surface arranged to abut the spherical member of the stabilizing link. . 11. The first and second caps prevent lateral movement between the stabilizing link and the mounting structure such that the mounting structure and the blade move about the stabilizing link. The stabilizing linkage device according to claim 10, wherein the stabilizing linkage device is rotatable.