US3758941A

US3758941A - Swing motor mounting arrangement and method of disassembly

Info

Publication number: US3758941A
Application number: US00231705A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Jackson; P Lempio
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-03
Filing date: 1972-03-03
Publication date: 1973-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-18
Also published as: JPS48100605A; JPS553506B2

Abstract

A swing motor has a shaft rotatably mounted in a housing thereof with the shaft projecting beyond each end of the housing. A support bracket and a frame are positioned on opposite sides of the motor and have a pair of overlapping bracket arms, positioned at each end of the motor, pivotally mounted together. A pin projects through each pair of bracket arms and is secured to one of the bracket arms and to a respective end of the shaft.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Jackson et al.

14 1 Sept. 18, 1973 [54] SWING MOTOR MOUNTING 3,405,823 10/1968 Williams 214/138 C ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF 3,081,891 3/1963 Przybylski 214/138 R DISASSEMBLY 3,608,930 9/1971 Moriceau 214/138 C 3,627,155 12/1971 Van Der Zyl 214/138 [75] Inventors: James S. Jackson, Peoria, 111.; Paul S. 2,978,116 4/1961 Wells et a1 212/68 Lempio, Sausaliw, m: 3,153,373 10/1964 Gies et a1. 214 138 R [73] 'Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111. Primary Examiner charles w. Lanham [22] Filed: Mar. 3, 1972 Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan 21 Appl. No.: 231,705 fi'lffffyi i ."T P

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. c1 29/464, 214/138, 287/100 A swingwirib'wri has 'Ehaft rotambly mounted in a 51 1m. 01 B231 3/00 h si h r f with the sh ft Pr je ting beyond each [58] Field 61 Search 29/464; 248/289, n of the housing- A pp bracket and a fr me re 248/291; 287/100 X; 74/105; 212/68; positioned on opposite sides of the motor and have a 214/138 R, 138 C, 138 XR; 308/189, 207 pair of overlapping bracket arms, positioned at each end of the motor, pivotally mounted together. A pin [56] References Cited projects through each pair gf braoiggt arrr and is UNITED STATES PATENTS secured to one of the bracket arms and to a respective 3,270,894 9/1966 151116088311. 212/66 and ofthe h 2,994,446 8/1961 Auwelaer et al 214/138 C 30 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 14 30; 2 1 1 1 up i r 20 18 I 15 43 l 24 i 22 PATENTED SEP I 8 I975 SHEEI 2 [If 3 \m a Z r.) a M M [Q 7 N 4 A Il ll .[0 a h J b m b 2 4 4 H a 2 4 SWING MOTOR MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF DISASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Backhoes nonnally comprise a vehicle having a support bracket mounted thereon and a mast frame swingably mounted on the support bracket about a vertically disposed pivot axis. A hydraulically actuated swing motor is positioned between the support bracket and frame to selectively pivot the frame during hoeing operations. A common problem with such motors is the inability to expeditiously detach the motor for repair or replacement purposes. Conventional motor mounts are generally complex, resulting in considerable downtime to effect such repair or replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to overcome the above, briefly described problems by providing an economical mounting for a swing motor which exhibits a high degree of structural integrity and is adapted for expeditious installation and removal.

The motor comprises a shaft mounted therein for relative rotation and a support bracket and a frame normally positioned on opposite sides of the motor to have a pair of overlapping bracket arms thereof pivotally mounted together by pivot means. The pivot means comprises a pin means projecting through each pair of overlapped bracket arms, positioned at opposite ends of the motor, and secured to only one of the bracket arms and to a respective first or second end of the shaft.

This invention also comprises a method for expeditiously disassembling and reassembling the motor. Such method includes the steps of moving the pin means axially relative to the connected shaft. In one embodiment, the method steps include securing a bolt to a threaded aperture formed through a pin until the bolt engages the motor shaft. Upon further rotation, the bolt will function to move the shaft axially away from the pin to disengage a spline connection thereof. Upon reassembly, another bolt is threadably attached to the shaft and pulled to draw the shaft into the pin to reconnect the spline connection.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further objects of this invention will become appar ent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a swing motor mounting arrangement of this invention; and

FIGS. 2-5 are views similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating alternative embodiments of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a swing motor mounting arrangement comprising a vertically disposed swing motor 11 of conventional design having a housing 12 rotatably mounting a shaft 13 therein. The shaft has exposed first and second ends 14 and 15, respectively, preferably projecting axially beyond respective ends of the housing. The shaft may have at least one vertically disposed vane (not shown) attached thereto in a conventional manner to pivot the shaft and housing relative to each other.

In particular, the operator'controlled motor may be selectively actuated via suitable control valves (not shown) to communicate a pressurized fluid, such as oil,

within the housing. The oil functions to rotate the shaft relative to the housing to thus rotate a mast frame 16 relative to a stationary support frame 17 of a backhoe. The support frame is normally mounted on a rear end of a tractor (not shown) whereas the mast frame normally pivotally mounts a boom 18 and a vertically displaced rod 19 of a hydraulically actuated cylinder thereon.

The cylinder is operatively connected to the boom to selectively lower and raise it, whereas the boom further mounts a conventional dipper stick and bucket assemblage thereon (not shown). In addition, the housing of motor 11 is preferably attached to support bracket 17 by bracket assembly 20, although :in certain motor applications the housing could be attached to mast frame 16 to rotate therewith and relative to shaft 13. l

The support bracket comprises vertically displaced

single bracket arms

21 and 22 positioned within overlapped, bifurcated

bracket arms

23 and 24, respectively, secured to mast frame 16. Thus, a pair of overlapping bracket arms are positioned at each axial end of the motor to extend laterally beyond shaft 13. Upper and lower pivot means 25 and 26 pivotally mount each pair of overlapping bracket arms together and further comprisemeans for quickly disconnecting the motor from the mounting arrangement.

Upper pivot means 25, for example, comprises a two part pin means secured to upper shaft end 14 by a bolt means 27 extending axially therethrough. The pin means comprises a tubular inner pin 28 and a cylindrical outer pin 29 circumventing the inner pin. The inner pin preferably has an unsplined, frustoconically shaped cutout 30 formed in its lower end 31 which mates with a like configured shaft end 14.

The inner pin terminates at its upper end at an annular flange 33 which is secured to an annular flange 34 of outer pin 29 by radially disposed bolts 35. In turn, flange 34 is attached to an upper bracket arm 23 by radially disposed bolts 36. A collar of bracket arm 21 of backhoe support bracket 17 pivotally mounts outer pin 29 therein by a standard annular bearing means 37.

The pin means for lower pivot means 26 comprises a single pin 40 attached to a lower bracket arm 24 by bolts 41, extending through a flange 42 thereof. The pin extends upwardly through overlapped

bracket arms

22 and 24 and is secured to lower end 15 of shaft 13 by a spline connection 43. An annular thrust bearing 44 is disposed between housing 12 of the motor and the upper end of pin 40. The pin is pivotally mounted in a collar of bracket arm 22 by an annular bearing 45.

When it is desired to remove motor 11 for repair or replacement purposes, bracket 20 is uncoupled from housing 12, bolts are removed and a puller (not shown) is coupled to inner pin 28 at the threaded holes for bolts 35. The method steps for such removal comprise first moving first pin means and first shaft end 15 axially relative to each other to disconnect them by simultaneously moving second pin means 28 and shaft 13 axially outwardly away from the first pin means. Second pin means is then further moved axially outwardly to disconnect second pin means from second shaft end 14.

It should be noted that such first and second moving steps comprise moving the same pin means 28. Bolt 27 is thereafter detached from upper shaft end 14 and pin 28 is removed therefrom. Upon removal of motor 11, it should be noted that

bearings

37 and 45 are not disturbed. Thus, such removal method substantially reduces the down time normally required with respect to the disassembly of conventional mountings.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate additional mounting arrangement embodiments a, 10b, 10c and 10d, respectively, of this invention wherein like numerals are employed to depict corresponding constructions and parts. Numerals employed in FIGS. 2-5 are accompanied by the letters a through d to depict alternative structures.

Referring to FIG. 2, a swing motor 11a comprises a housing l2a having a shaft 13a rotatably mounted therein. Exposed first and second shaft ends 14a and 15a, respectively, preferably project beyond respective ends of the housing with the upper end being connected to a hollow inner pin 28a at a spline connection 310. The inner pin terminates at its upper end at an annular flange 33a secured to an annular flange 34a of an outer pin 29a of the pin means by bolts 35a. Flange 34a is attached to upper bracket arm 23 by radially disposed bolts 36a.

Bracket arm 21 of backhoe support bracket 17 is pivotally mounted on outer pin 29a by a standard annular bearing 37a of integrated upper pivot means 25a. The pin means for a lower pivot means 26a comprises a single pin 40a attached to a lower bracket arm 24 by bolts 41a, extending through flange 42a thereof. The pin extends upwardly through overlapped

bracket arms

22 and 24 and is secured to a lower end 15a of shaft 13a by a spline connection 43a. The pin pivotally mounts bracket arm 22 of backhoe support bracket 17 thereon by a standard annular bearing 45a.

The method for removing motor 1 In for repair or replacement purposes, comprises detaching bolts 35a, attaching a puller (not shown) to inner pin 28a and moving it upwardly to disconnect it from upper shaft end 14a at spline connection 31a. A bolt (not shown) is then threadably attached at a threaded opening means 46, formed axially through pin 40a, and is rotated to abut the lower end of shaft 13a. Further rotation of the bolt will function to move shaft 13a and motor lla' axially upwardly to disengage them from pin 40a at spline connection 43a.

When it is desired to reassemble motor 11a, the above sequence is reversed, but is initiated by first attaching a bolt (not shown) to a threaded second opening means 47 formed on lower shaft end 15a. A puller (not shown) maybe attached to such bolt to pull shaft 13a downwardly to re-engage the shaft with pin 40a at spline connection 430. It should be noted that the diameter of opening 47 is smaller than the diameter of opening 46 to permit the bolt engaging threaded opening 47 to be freely inserted through opening 46.

The FIG. 3 embodiment comprises a swing motor 11b having a housing 12b rotatably mounting a shaft 13b therein. An outer end 14b of the shaft is connected to the hollow lower end of a single solid pin 28b at spline connection 311;. A separate bracket member 33b is attached to an upper bracket arm 23 by bolts 35b to normally overlie and prevent the pin from moving axially upwardly. An annular bearing 37b pivotally mounts bracket arm 21 of support bracket 17 on, the pin. The illustrated mounting arrangement is duplicated at the lower end of the swing motor assembly.

The FIG. 4 embodiment comprises a motor 110 having a housing 12c rotatably mounting a shaft 130 therein. A hollow upper end 140 of the shaft is splined at 310 to a tubular pin 28c. The pin terminates at its upper end at a flange 33c secured to an upper bracket arm 23 by bolts 35c. An annular bearing 37c rotatably mounts bracket arm 21 of support bracket 17 on the pin. The illustrated mounting arrangement is duplicated at the lower end of the swing motor assembly.

The FIG. 5 embodiment comprises a swing motor 11d having a housing 12d rotatably mounting a shaft 13d therein. An upper end 14d of the shaft is splined at 31d to the lower, hollow end of a pin 28d. The upper end of the pin has a flange 33d secured to an upper bracket arm 23 by bolts 35d. The FIG. 5 embodiment essentially differs from the FIGS. 3 and 4 embodiments in that an annular sleeve bushing 48, disposed between a bearing 37d and pin 28d, is press-fitted or otherwise suitably secured to vertically spaced bracket arms 23 to permit the pin to be moved upwardly therethrough upon release of bolts 35d.

The swing motors illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 may be suitably removed by releasing bolts 35b, 35c and 35d, respectively, to permit the respective pins to be moved axially away from the connected motors by a suitably attached puller (not shown).

What is claimed is:

l. A swing motor mounting arrangement comprising a motor having a housing and a shaft mounted therein for relative rotation therewith, first and second ends of said shaft exposed at opposite ends of said housing, a support bracket and a frame normally positioned on opposite sides of said motor and having a pair of overlapping bracket arms positioned at each axial end of said motor to extend laterally beyond said shaft, and pivot means pivotally mounting each pair of said overlapping bracket arms together, including a pin means projecting through said pair of bracket arms and secured to only one of said bracket arms and to a respective first or second end of said shaft.

2. The invention of claim I wherein the first and second ends of said shaft project axially beyond respective ends of said housing.

3. The invention of claim I wherein said support bracket has the housing of said motor attached thereto and said frame constitutes the mast frame of a backhoe having a boom and a vertically spaced, hydraulically actuated cylinder each pivotally mounted thereon.

4. The invention of claim I wherein each bracket arm of said frame is bifurcated and each bracket arm of said support bracket is positioned within a respective one of the bifurcated bracket arms, said pivot means further comprising annular bearing means pivotally mounting each pin means on a respective bracket arm of said support bracket.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said pin means is secured to a respective end of said shaft by a spline connection.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein each of said pin means is secured to a respective end of said shaft by a spline connection.

7. The invention of claim I wherein a pin means is secured to the first end of said shaft by bolt means extending axially through said pin means.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said pin means comprises an inner pin secured to the first end of said shaft and a cylindrical outer pin circumventing said inner pin and attached to said inner pin and to the bracket arm of said frame, said outer pin pivotally mounted on the bracket arm of said support bracket.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said inner and outer pins each terminate at their outer ends at an annular flange respectively attached to said outer pin and to the bracket arm of said frame.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein the other one of said pin means constitutes a single pin secured to the second end of said shaft and to the other bracket arm of said frame.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said single pin is secured to the second end of said shaft by a spline connection and is pivotally mounted on the other bracket arm of said frame.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said pin means has means forming a threaded opening therethrough to expose a respective, adjacent end of said shaft for permitting a bolt to be threadably attached therein and rotated to move such pin means and said shaft axially relative to each other.

13. The invention of claim 12 further comprising means forming a threaded second opening in said adjacent end of said shaft, axially aligned with and having a smaller diameter than said first-mentioned threaded opening, for permitting a bolt to be threadably attached therein for pulling said shaft and pin means together.

14. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said pin means constitutes a single solid pin connected by a spline connection to a respective end of said shaft.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the inner end of each of said pins is hollow at its spline connection to said shaft.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein each end of said shaft is hollow at its spline connection to a respective pin.

17. The invention of claim 14 further comprising a separate bracket member attached to each of the bracket arms of said support bracket to overlie a respective end of said shaft to prevent axial movement of said shaft.

18. The invention of claim 14 wherein an outer end of each of said pins has a flange formed thereon, attached to each of the bracket arms of said support bracket.

19. The invention of claim 14 further comprising on axially extending, annular bearing disposed between each of said pins and a respective bracket arm of said frame.

20. The invention of claim 19 further comprising an annular sleeve bushing disposed between each of said bearings and a respective pin, each of said sleeve bushings attached to a respective bracket arm of said support bracket.

21. In a swing motor mounting arrangement, a motor having a housing and a shaft mounted therein for relative rotation therewith, first and second ends of said shaft exposed at opposite ends of said housing, a support bracket and a frame having a pair of overlapping bracket arms positioned at each axial end of said motor to extend laterally beyond said shaft and a pin extending through each pair of bracket arms, the inner end of each of said pins and a respective end of said shaft coupled within each other.

22. The invention of claim 21 further comprising means forming an axially extending threaded hole 7 through at least one of said pins to expose the end of to move said coupled pin and shaft axially apart relative to each other into uncoupled relationship.

23. The invention of claim 22 further comprising means forming an axially extending threaded second hole on the coupled end of said shaft, disposed in axial alignment with and having a diameter smaller than that of the threaded hole formed through the coupled pin, whereby a bolt can be threadably mounted in said second threaded hole and pulled to move said coupled pin and shaft axially toward each other into coupled relationship.

24. A method for disassembling :a vertically disposed motor from a mounting arrangement, wherein each end of a shaft of said motor is attached to a pin means and is further attached to one bracket arm of a pair of overlapping bracket arms positioned :at each end of said motor, said motor mounted between said pairs of bracket arms, comprising the steps of first moving a first one of said pin means and a first end of said shaft axially relative to each other to disconnect them,

second moving a second one of said pin means and a second end of said shaft axially relative to each other to disconnect them, and

removing said motor from between said pairs of bracket arms. 25. The invention of claim 24 wherein said first and second moving steps comprise moving the same pin means axially.

26. The invention of claim 25 wherein said first mov ing step comprises simultaneously moving said second pin means and said shaft axially outwardly away from said first pin means to disconnect said first pin means from the first end of said shaft and said. second moving step comprises further moving said second pin means axially outwardly away from said first pin means to disconnect said second pin means from the second end of said shaft. 27. The invention of claim 24 wherein said first moving step comprises moving said second pin means axially outwardly away from said first pin means to disconnect said second pin means from the second end of said shaft and wherein said second moving step comprises threadably mounting a bolt in said first pin means in end abutting relationship with the first end of said shaft and rotating said bolt to move said shaft axially to disconnect the first end of said shaft from said first pin means.

28. The invention of claim 24 wherein said first and second moving step each comprises moving said first and second pin means axially outwardly away from said motor to disconnect respective first and second ends of said shaft from said first and second pin means.

29. A method for disassembling a first member from an axially aligned second member which is connected thereto by a spline connection, said second member having a threaded hole formed therethrough, comprising the steps of threadably mounting a bolt in said hole,

rotating said bolt to abut said first member with an end thereof, and

further rotating said bolt to move said first member axially relative to said second member until said member,

inserting a second bolt through the threaded hole formed in said second member,

threadably mounting said second bolt in said second hole, and

pulling said second bolt to draw said first member toward said second member until said spline connection is fully engaged to connect said first and second members together.

# t a: s

Claims

1. A swing motor mounting arrangement comprising a motor having a housing and a shaft mounted therein for relative rotation therewith, first and second ends of said shaft exposed at opposite ends of said housing, a support bracket and a frame normally positioned on opposite sides of said motor and having a pair of overlapping bracket arms positioned at each axial end of said motor to extend laterally beyond said shaft, and pivot means pivotally mounting each pair of said overlapping bracket arms together, including a pin means projecting through said pair of bracket arms and secured to only one of said bracket arms and to a respective first or second end of said shaft.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first and second ends of said shaft project axially beyond respective ends of said housing.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said support bracket has the housing of said motor attached thereto and said frame constitutes the mast frame of a backhoe having a boom and a vertically spaced, hydraulically actuated cylinder each pivotally mounted thereon.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein each bracket arm of said frame is bifurcated and each bracket arm of said support bracket is positioned within a respective one of the bifurcated bracket arms, said pivot means further comprising annular bearing means pivotally mounting each pin means on a respective bracket arm of said support bracket.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein a pin means is secured to the first end of said shaft by bolt means extending axially through said pin means.

22. The invention of claim 21 further comprising means forming an axially extending threaded hole through at least one of said pins to expose the end of said shaft coupled thereto whereby a bolt can be threadably mounted in said threaded hole and rotated to move said coupled pin and shaft axially apart relative to each other into uncoupled relationship.

24. A method for disassembling a vertically disposed motor from a mounting arrangement, wherein each end of a shaft of said motor is attached to a pin means and is further attached to one bracket arm of a pair of overlapping bracket arms positioned at each end of said motor, said motor mounted between said pairs of bracket arms, comprising the steps of first moving a first one of said pin means and a first end of said shaft axially relative to each other to disconnect them, second moving a second one of said pin means and a second end of said shaft axially relative to each other to disconnect them, and removing said motor from between said pairs of bracket arms.

25. The invention of claim 24 wherein said first and second moving steps comprise moving the same pin means axially.

26. The invention of claim 25 wherein said first moving step comprises simultaneously moving said second pin means and said shaft axially outwardly away from said first pin means to disconnect said first pin means from the first end of said shaft and said second moving step comprises further moving said second pin means axially outwardly away from said first pin means to disconnect said second pin means from the second end of said shaft.

27. The invention of claim 24 wherein said first moving step comprises moving said second pin means axially outwardly away from said first pin means to disconnect said second pin means from the second end of said shaft and wherein said second moving step comprises threadably mounting a bolt in said first pin means in end abutting relationship with the first end of said shaft and rotating said bolt to move said shaft axially to disconnect the first end of said shaft from said first pin means.

29. A method for disassembling a first member from an axially aligned second member which is connected thereto by a spline connection, said second member having a threaded hole formed therethrough, comprising the steps of threadably mounting a bolt in said hole, rotating said bolt to abut said first member with an end thereof, and further rotating said bolt to move said first member axially relative to said second member until said first and second members are disconnected from each other at said spline connection.

30. The invention of claim 29 further comprising the step of reassembling said first and second members by connecting them together at said spline connection, said first member having a threaded second hole formed therein which is axially aligned with and has a smaller diameter than the threaded hole formed through said second member, including the steps of removing said first-mentioned bolt from said second member, inserting a second bolt through the threaded hole formed in said second member, threadably mounting said second bolt in said second hole, and pulling said second bolt to draw said first member toward said second member until said spline connection is fully engaged to connect said first and second members together.