US20160194852A1

US20160194852A1 - Multiuse grasping attachment for excavators

Info

Publication number: US20160194852A1
Application number: US14/591,471
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Degroot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-07
Filing date: 2015-01-07
Publication date: 2016-07-07

Abstract

A grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects, the grasping device comprising of a grasping device body mounted to working end of an excavator arm; said grasping device body having two metal panels; a first grasping member and a second grasping member that are pivotably connected to said grasping device body; said grasping members being configured to open and close with respect to each other by pivoting; said first grasping member and second grasping member having a proximal end located near grasping device body and distal end located at opposite end of grasping member; said first grasping member and second grasping member having a flat portion extending upwards from distal end of each grasping member; said first grasping member and second grasping member having indentations extending upwards from said flat portions; and said first grasping member and second grasping member further forming a roughly semi-circular opening near proximal end of said grasping members.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to industrial machinery and specifically to an excavator attachment gripping device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known in the prior art, mini-excavators use one end of a working arm for a variety of attachments. Such attachments are well known in the prior art and included buckets, forks, tie tampers and etc. In the related art, a known gripping device provided at an end of a working arm of a working machine includes a gripping-device body mounted to the working arm, a pair of movable gripping members that are pivotably connected to the gripping-device body so as to be openable and closable with respect to each other, and a driver that drives these gripping members so as to open and close the gripping members.
Such gripping devices are not capable of grasping buckets, attachments or to be used for digging. As such an operator is required to switch from the gripping attachment to a bucket attachment or a digging attachment. Having such a requirement for switching prolongs the time required to perform a task and inconveniences the excavator operator.
Conventional grapples are generally used for lifting and moving objects but are not capable of performing heavy work themselves as the arrangement of the pivoting grasping members may be too fragile to withstand excessive downward force.
The prior art describes bucket attachments for excavators that contain a “thumb” attachment. These attachments are capable of performing the work of a bucket and perform some grasping of objects. However, picking up of single objects and smaller objects such as railroad ties is often difficult with such devices. There is a need for a device that is capable of performing multiple tasks such as grasping of a collection or single objects and that has a means for quickly attaching and using other conventional attachments so as to save time and make the use of an excavator easier for multipurpose tasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a multifunctional grappling attachment for an excavator arm. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gripping device capable of gripping various types and various sizes of objects without the requirement of switching between attachments. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention consists of a grappling body which is mounted to the excavator arm. The grappling body is further made of a first grappling member and a second grappling member. The grappling members are aligned in parallel and are pivotally supported at the ends proximal to the excavator arm. The grappling members are configured to open and close on command by an excavator operator.
Furthermore, the grappling members of the present invention are designed such that they are able to grab different sizes of objects. The grappling members at their distal end contain a flat portion which is used for picking up smaller objects such as rail road ties. The grappling members also contain a plurality of grooves which aid the present invention in grasping larger objects such as logs, pipes, and other similar objects. A specially designed groove in the grappling members also allows the present invention to pick up excavator buckets. Accordingly, the present invention is capable of replacing several tools.
The present invention is further capable of being mounted on a tiltrotator attached to the excavator arm. A tiltrotator allows for 360 degree rotation and +/−40 degree tilt of the present invention thereby providing more flexibility and range in the use of the present invention. The present invention is engaged with the tiltrotator via a quick-coupler assembly that is part of the tiltrotator's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows the present invention as part of an excavator;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the present invention grasping a railroad tie;

FIG. 4 shows the present invention attaching to a tie tamping attachment;

FIG. 5 shows the present invention grasping a bucket attachment; and

FIG. 6 shows the present invention grasping a fork attachment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated therein is a grappling device 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the present invention is connected to a tiltrotator 22 which is connected to an arm 21 of an excavator 20. The present invention 10 being connected to the tiltrotator 22 by a quick coupler which is a part of the tiltrotator 22 body. The present invention contains a means, which is known in the prior art, of connecting to a quick coupler to a tiltrotator 22 housed in the grappler body 15. While being attached to a tiltrotator 22, the present invention is capable of precise movement for a required application. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is attached to a high rail excavator. However, the present invention is capable of being attached to various excavator types and can be scaled to size for the required application.
FIG. 2 illustrates that the present invention 10 comprising a grappler body 11 with grappling members 12-13. The grappling members 12-13 are shown in profile as they are capable of being rotated by the tiltrotator 20. The grappling members 12-13 possess a gripping portion 121-131 at their distal end, consisting of teeth or another rough surface, from the excavator arm. The gripping portion 121-131 allows for gripping and manipulating relatively smaller objects. The grappling members 12-13 are moved by attachments on the outer elbows 124-134 of the grappling members 12-13 which are kept in line by plates 123-133 pressed against them.
The gripping portion 121-131 also allows for lifting other attachments and gripping and keeping them in a straight position such that it allows for them to be used for digging. The pivotal joint of the grappling members is located within the grappling body 11 and is covered by a metal plate 111 on each side. A single pin pivoting assembly is located in the grasping body 11 and is covered by the metal plate 111. An alternative embodiment of the present invention 10 can include having each grappling member 12-13 on separate pins located inside the grappling body 11. As the grappling members 12-13 open and close they exert a force on the pivot that may misalign the grappling members 12-13 with each opening and closing motion. The metal plates 111 act against that force and serve to keep the pivoting assembly from misaligning the grappling members 12-13 with each opening and closing motion.
The metal plate 111 also protrudes at the bottom creating a flange 112 to which various attachments are held securely. When a force is exerted on an attachment held by the present invention 10, the flange 112 prevents any motion and misalignment of the attachment. A lack of a straight flange 112 that aligns with the attachment may result in tools rocking back and forth and a user having to readjust the position of the attachments.
Further referring to FIG. 2, the gripping portion 121-131 consist of teeth that are present in the grappling members 12-13 for grasping larger objects that also may be irregularly shaped. Thereby, the present invention is capable of grasping and manipulating irregular objects such as posts, planks, boulders and other collections of objects.
FIG. 2 additionally shows a specially designed groove 120 located near the proximal ends of the grappling members 12-13. The groove 120 is comprised of two semicircular grooves located on each grappling member 12-13 proximal end. The groove may be contiguous with the indentations or there may be another flat portion separating the groove from the indentations.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, the present invention is capable of grasping various objects. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is attached to a rail excavator and as such is capable of holding railroad ties 30, as shown in FIG. 3. The gripping portion 121-131 of the grappling members 12-13 can grasp a railroad tie. Additionally, since the present invention 10 is capable of being installed on the quickcoupler of a tiltrotator 15, it is able to precisely maneuver the railroad tie in position and have it placed underneath the rails.
FIG. 4 shows the present invention 10 holding a railway tie tamper 40. The grappling members 12-13 enter the tamping tool and, once inside, are held open by an excavator operator. The positioning of the grappling members 12-13 allows them to grasp a railway tie tamper 40 and lift it. The grappling members 12-13 are able to securely grasp the tamping tool attachment 40 so as to generate the force required for tamping. As previously, attachment of the present invention to a tiltrotator 15 enables the present invention to pivot and rotate to move the railway tie tamper 40 in various positions.
Shown in FIG. 5, is the present invention 10 grasping a ditching bucket attachment 50. The specially designed groove 120 at the proximal end of the grasping members 12-13 allows for the present invention 10 to attach to a bucket attachment 50. The present invention 10 enters the bucket 50 from the top and grasps a center bar with the groove 120 and clasps the grappling members 12-13 together. When closed, the grappling members 12-13 are capable of securely lifting and moving the ditching bucket attachment 50. The flange 111 serves to keep the ditching bucket aligned when being moved and rotated by the excavator 20. The present invention when attached to a tiltrotator 22 is then capable of manipulating the bucket 50 in a manner in which the bucket may be used for digging and other similar tasks.
Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention 10 is shown gripping adjustable fork attachment 60. As with the ditching bucket 50, in FIG. 5, the present invention grasps the back of the adjustable fork attachment 60 with the groove 120. The grappling members 12-13 close and are then capable of securely lifting and moving the adjustable fork attachment 60. The forks 61-62, are capable of then lifting crates, boxes and other similar objects thus giving the present invention 10 the ability to quickly change to a fork attachment when required by an operator.
One embodiment of the present invention 10 is it being used on a rail excavator. As such, the present invention is mounted 10 on a tiltrotator 22 attached to a rail excavator arm. In this embodiment, the present invention 10 is capable of grasping the required tools for rail installation or removal. Since the present invention is capable of grasping and holding a wide variety of excavator tools and attachments, it is capable of performing the task much faster than conventional rail excavator attachments.
In this embodiment, the present invention's usability is demonstrated in an example in which a railway tie is to be replaced. The present invention can use the gripping portion 121 or 131 as a tool to loosen up a ballast where a tie 30 has been removed so as to provide a means for placing a new railroad tie 30. When enough space has been made for inserting a railroad tie 30, the present invention 10 will then grasp a railroad tie with the gripping portion 121-131 of its grasping members 12-13 and maneuver it in position underneath the rail. The gripping surface 121-131 on the lateral side of the grasping members may also be used to exert force on the railroad tie 30 when inserting. Once the tie 30 has been inserted and the rail plates installed on top of the tie 30, the tie tamper 40 attached to the present invention 10 tamps the tie 30 forcing the ballast underneath the railway tie 30 and thus forcing the tie upward against the rail. At any time during this process the present invention 10 is capable of grasping a bucket 50 and moving tools or gravel that have been placed in it if such a need arises.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects, the grasping device comprising:

a. a grasping device body mounted to working end of an excavator arm;

b. said grasping device body having two metal panels wherein said metal panels having a thickness extending from said grasping device body;

c. wherein said thickness of said metal panels creating a horizontal flange;

d. a first grasping member and a second grasping member that are pivotably connected to said grasping device body;

e. said grasping members being configured to open and close with respect to each other by pivoting;

f. said first grasping member and second grasping member having a proximal end located near grasping device body and distal end located at opposite end of grasping member;

g. said first grasping member and second grasping member having a flat portion extending upwards from distal end of each grasping member;

h. said first grasping member and second grasping member having indentations extending upwards from said flat portions; and

i. said first grasping members and second grasping member further forming a roughly semi-circular opening near proximal end of said grasping members.

2. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said grasping body having a quick coupler attachment for attachment to an excavator arm.

3. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said horizontal flange being used to align position of items being grasped.

4. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said horizontal flange being used to maintain position of items being grasped by preventing excess motion.

5. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said semi-circular opening of said grasping members being capable of grasping a ditching bucket by closing said grasping members.

6. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said semi-circular opening of said grasping members being capable of grasping an adjustable fork attachment by closing said grasping members.

7. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said indentations of said grasping members being capable of grasping objects.

8. The grasping device at a working end of an excavator arm configured to grip objects of claim 1, wherein said grappling members being capable of attaching to a railroad tie tamper by entering said railroad tie tamper from top and opening grasping members.