WO1992005319A1

WO1992005319A1 - An apparatus for machines

Info

Publication number: WO1992005319A1
Application number: PCT/SE1991/000616
Authority: WO
Inventors: Birger Persson
Original assignee: Ab Mähler & Söner
Priority date: 1990-09-17
Filing date: 1991-09-16
Publication date: 1992-04-02
Also published as: SE9201514L; SE9201514D0; SE9002954D0

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for motor-driven machines, intended for levelling of gravelled roads and comprising a scraping blade which is intended to work the surface layer of the gravelled road so that a gravelled row is created, and a device for spreading the gravelled row, comprising a blade for spreading the gravelled row, which blade is intended to level out gravelled row created by the scraping blade, the scraping blade and the row spreading blade being adjustably arranged so that they can be raised or lowered in relation to the roadway. According to the invention the apparatus is so constructed that row spreading blade (13) is pivotable in the vertical plane, i.e. can pivot about an essentially horizontal axle. At least one sensor means (17) is arranged for detecting the material quantity of the gravelled row, this means in dependence upon the material quantity being intended to influence a first means (18), cooperating with the row spreading blade (13), for raising and lowering the same (13).

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR MACHINES.

This invention relates to an apparatus for motor-driven machines, intended for levelling of gravelled roads and com- prising a scraping blade which is intended to work the surface layer of the gravelled road so that a gravelled row is created, and a device for spreading the gravelled row, comprising a blade for spreading the gravelled row, which blade is intended to level out the gravelled row created by the scraping blade, the scraping blade and the row spreading blade being adjustably arranged so that they can be raised or lowered in relation to the roadway.

When levelling gravelled roads with the intention to level out the surface layer of the gravelled road, today machines are utilized which comprise a scraping blade that scrapes up the surface layer of the gravelled road so that a gravelled row is created. This gravelled row is spread over the roadway by means of a row spreading blade which is positioned at the back of the machine. It is, however, an essential problem connected with the known technique and that is that the gravelled row is not spread smoothly over the roadway. This fact becomes especially evident if the quantity of material is large. The reason why is the design of the known row spreading device. The purpose of this invention is to remove the problems with known technique and offer a row spreading device provided with a row spreading blade, which device makes possible a very smooth spreading of the gravelled row, independently if the quantity of material is large or small. This has been made possible by an apparatus of the kind mentioned by way of introduction, which is characterized in that the apparatus is so constructed that the row spreading blaάe is pivotable in the vertical plane, i.e. can pivot about an essentially horizontal axle, and that at least one sensor means is arranged for detecting the material quantity of the gravelled row, this means in dependence of the material quantity being intended to influence a first means, cooperating with the row spreading blade, for raising and lowering the same. The remaining features of the invention will appear more closely below when describing a preferred embodiment of the in¬ vention. In that connection reference is made to the accompany¬ ing drawings, where Fig. 1 shows the row spreading device, seen obliquely from the front and fastened to the back frame portion of a road machine, Fiσ. 2 shows the row spreading device according to Fig. 1, seen obliquely from behind, and Fig. 3 shows a detail design of a means for raising or lowering of the row spreading blade, which means is somewhat modified in re- lation to the corresponding means of the embodiment according to Figs. 1, 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 is shown there a row spreading device 1, which comprises a basic portion 2 with a vertical extension. In the upper part of the basic portion there is a yoke 3 arti- culately fastened, which is formed by the rear ends of two arms 4, 5. In the lower part of the basic portion there is another yoke 6 articulately fastened, which is formed by the rear ends of two other arms 7, 8. The fore ends of the four arms 4, 5, 7, 8 are articulately fastened to a first portion 9 of a quick coupling attachment, which portion 9 is intended to cooperate with a second portion 10 of the quick coupling attachment, which portion 10 is fastened to the rear portion of the machine. Due to that fact the row spreading device can easily be mounted onto and dismounted from the road machine. The one end of a first hydraulic cylinder 11 is articu¬ lately fastened to the lower part of the rear portion of the machine, wheras the other end of the hydraulic cylinder 11 is articulately fastened to the underside of the upper yoke 3. Due to that fact the row spreading device can be raised and lowered by means of the hydraulic cylinder 11.

The row spreading means 12 itself is fastened to the basic portion 2 (see Fig. 2) . This enas 12 comprising an elongated row spreading blade 13 is suspended in an attachment 14 with a vertical extension. The attachment 14 is so arranged at the basic portion 2 that the attachment can be pivoted in relation to the basic portion about an imaginary, essentially vertical axis. This is made possible by means of a second 15 och a third 16 hydraulic cylinder, positioned on each side of the attachment 14 about at the center portion of this one. Due to that fact the row spreading 13 blade can take different angles in the horizontal plane. According to a preferred em¬ bodiment the horizontal angle is adjustable between 0-40°. An important part of the invention is that the row spreading blade 13 having an essentially vertical extension, whereby the cutting angle towards the ground plane becomes essentially 90°, shall be able to be pivoted in the vertical plane in relation to the attachment 14. Due to that fact is made possible a raising or lowering of the row spreading blade 13 which is of great value if the material quantity that shall be spread out is large or small. The elongated row spreading blade 13 extending essentially across the intended movement di¬ rection of the vehicle shall accordingly be able to be pivoted about an essentially horizontal axis, arranged in the lower portion of the attachment 14, which axis extends essentially in the intended movement direction of the vehicle, when the row spreading blade has a direction which is essentially perpendi¬ cular to the intended movement direction of the vehicle. This pivoting of the row spreading blade in the vertical plane is made automatically by means of a sensor means 17, which shall detect the material quantity in front of the row spreading blade 13. The sensor means 17 which is preferably of ultrasonic type, is so arranged that it can influence a means 18 which raises or lowers the row spreading blade 13 on the right side of the machine, seen in the travelling direction. This means 18 comprises a pivoting wheel 19 (see Fig. 3) which is arranged in front of the row spreading blade 13 and at a lower part of a vertical arm 20, which is telescopically extractable out of and retractable into another vertical arm 21. The arm 21 is faste¬ ned to the fore end of a relatively long, essentially horizon¬ tal arm 22 which extends above the row spreading blade 13. The rear end of the arm 22 is fastened to the upper end of an essentially vertical rod 23 which is rotatably arranged at the back of the row spreading blade 13. On the top side of the horizontal arm 22 there is arranged a fourth hydraulic cylinder 24, the fore end of which is intended to cooperate with a link mechanism 25 (see Fig. 3) which is intended to generate the telescoping movement between the arms 20 and 21. The link mechanism 25 comprises an essentially U-formed clamp 26, the bottom portion of which is articulately fastened to the hydrau¬ lic cylinder 24, whereas the two legs 27, 28 of the clamp are articulately fastened on each side of the vertical arm 20. Furthermore, the centre portion of each leg is articulately fastened to the one end of a link 29, the other end of the link 29 being articulately fastened to the upper portion of the vertical arm 21. Due to that fact is achieved in a simple and smooth way an effective telescoping movement between the arms 20 and 21 during the retraction and extraction of the plunger into and out of, respectively, the hydraulic cylinder 24. In Fig. 3 is also shown a means 30 provided with a crank by which it is possible to manually preset the height of the row spread- ing blade over the roadway and limit the movement of the plunger of the hydraulic cylinder 24. Due to that fact also the movement of the arm 20 can be limited.

It is essential that the row spreading blade 13 takes essentially the same angle in the vertical plane as the scrap- ing blade of the machine. According to the invention this problem is solved in that way that a first sensor means detects the position of the scraping in the vertical plane, whereas a second sensor means detects the position of the row spreading blade 13. In that connection the information from the first sensor goes to the second sensor which is so arranged that it can influence a means 31 for raising or lowering the row spreading blade 13 on the left side of the machine, seen in the travelling direction, whereby the row spreading blade 13 can take the same position in the vertical plane as the scraping blade.

The means 31 has essentially the same construction with a pivoting wheel 32 as the means 18 which has been described above and is so arranged that the pivoting wheel can be placed either in front of or behind the row spreading blade 13, pre- ferably behind as is shown in the drawing.

The row spreading blade 13 is preferably divided into four sections, a middle one 33 (see Fig. 1) and a section 34, 35 on each side of this middle section. Moreover, there is a fourth section 36 in the form of a row catching means, which is positioned on the left side of the row spreading blade 13, seen in the travelling direction of the machine during work. This row catching means 36 is so arranged that in a hydraulic way it can be angled off partly forwards and partly downwards in re¬ lation to the section 35 lying inside of the row catching means 36. Due to that fact the row spreading blade 13 can work more effective when levelling humpbacked roadways.

The sections 34, 35 of the spreading blade 13 which normally project far outside the width of the machine in order to give a good working width can in a working way be retracted towards the longitudinal centre line of the machine so that the passibility of the machine can be increased in narrow passages. In that connection the means 18, swung out normally seen, for raising or lowering the row spreading blade 13, which means is arranged about at the transition area between the middle sec¬ tion 33 and the outer section 34 of the row spreading blade 13, will be swung inwards so that it gets a position inside the width of the machine. In the drawings there is also shown a fifth hydraulic cylinder 37. This one is so arranged that it can perform a pivoting movement of the row spreading blade 13, when the entire row spreading device is lifted up from the ground. In that connection the hydraulic cylinder 37 can be locked in a certain position when the row spreading device has taken a lifted resting position. However, the hydraulic cylinder 37 takes a floating position when the row spreading device has taken the working position.

The quick coupling attachment between the machine and the row spreading device is so arranged that the row spreading device can be laterally displaced on the rear portion of the machine. According to this preferred embodiment of the inven¬ tion the device can be displaced 700 mm.

According to a further developed embodiment of the apparatus the driving compartment of the machine comprises operation means by which it is possible to operate the hydrau¬ lic cylinders, which influence the arms of the pivoting wheels on each side of the centre portion of the row spreading device. Due to that fact it is possible before the machine starts to work to preset the position of the row spreading blade in re¬ lation to the roadway. Furthermore, each hydraulic cylinder at the pivoting wheels is provided with a sensor means. In that connection the sensor means at the hydraulic cylinder of the pivoting wheel on the right side of the machine, seen from behind, gives information to the sensor means at the hydraulic cylinder of the pivoting wheel on the left side of the machine about the position regarding the height over the roadway of the row spreading blade. Due to that fact the height setting means on the left side of the machine will be adapted to the height setting means on the right side of the machine so that the row spreading blade gets essentially the same level over the road¬ way along its entire extension. If then the machine driver should want to raise or lower the row spreading blade, for instance on the left side of the machine, this can be made by the driver's turning the operation means inside the driving compartment for the hydraulic cylinder on the left side of the machin . As has been mentioned previously the hydraulic cylinders of the pivoting wheels are suitably provided with a crank means 30 by which it is possible to manually change the height posi¬ tion of the row spreading blade.

The invention is of course not limited to the shown and described embodiment but can be modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for motor-driven machines, intended for levelling of gravelled roads and comprising a scraping blade which is intended to work the surface layer of the gravelled road so that a gravelled road is created, and a device for spreading the gravelled row, comprising a blade for spreading the gravelled row which blade is intended to level out the gravelled row created by the scraping blade, the scraping blade and the row spreading blade being adjustably arranged so that they can be raised or lowered in relation to the roadway, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apparatus is so arranged that the row spreading blade (13) is pivotable in the vertical plane, i.e. can pivot about an essentially horizontal axis, and that at least a sensor means (17) is arranged for detecting the material quantity of the gravelled row, this means in dependen¬ ce of the material quantity being intended to influence a first means (18) cooperating with the row spreading blade (13) for raising or lowering of the row spreading blade (13) .

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, the first means

(18) for raising or lowering of the row spreading blade (13) being arranged on the one side of the centre portion of the row spreading device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that sens' means are arranged for detecting the vertical angle of t scraping blade and the row spreading blade (13) , coopera on being made between the sensor means so that a second mr 3 (31) cooperating with the row spreading blade (13) can rais- or lower the row spreading blade (13) in order that this one shall take essentially the same vertical angle as the scrr ing blade, and that the second means (31) is arranged on the c_her side of the centre portion of the row spreading device (1) .

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, the first means (18) for raising or lowering the row spreading blade (13) being arranged on the one side of the centre portion of the row spreading device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a second means (31) cooperating with the row spreading blade (13) is arranged on the other side of the centre portion of the row spreading device (1) , and that a sensor means is arranged on both means (18, 31) for raising or lowering the row spreading blade (13) , the sensor means being so arranged that information from the one sensor means can be transmitted to the other sensor means so that the means (18, 31) for raising or lowering the row spreading blade (13) are coordinated, whereby the row spreading blade (13) takes essentially the same height over the roadway along its extension.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the row spreading blade (13) is pivotably suspended on an essentially horizontal shaft in the lower portion of an attachment (14) with vertical exten¬ sion, which shaft extends essentially in the intended movement direction of the machine, when the row spreading blade (13) has taken a position which is essentially perpendicular to the mentioned movement direction.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, the row spreading device (1) comprising a basic portion (2) from which project means (4, 5, 7, 8) for fastening the device (1) to the rear portion of the machine, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the attachment (14) is so arranged that it can be pivoted in re¬ lation to the basic portion (2) about an imaginary, essentially vertical axis, whereby the row spreading blade (13) can take different angles in the horizontal plane.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first means

(18) cooperating with the row spreading blade (13) for raising or lowering the same comprises a pivoting wheel (19) which is arranged in front of the row spreading blade (13) and at the lower part of a vertical arm (20) , which is telescopically extractable our of and retractable into another vertical arm (21).

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the arm (21) is fastened to the fore end of an essentially horizontal arm (22) extending above the row spreading blade (13), and the rear end of which being fastened to the upper end of an essentially vertical rod (23) , which is pivotably arranged on the back side of the row spreading blade (13) , and that the telescoping movement between the vertical y arms (20, 21) is made by means of a hydraulic cylinder (24) and a link mechanism (25) .

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the link mechanism (25) comprises an essentially U-formed clamp (26) , the bottom portion of which is articulately fastened to the hydraulic cylinder (24) , whereas the two legs (27, 28) of the clamp are articulately fastened on each side of the vertical arm (20) , and that the centre portion of each of the legs (27, 28) is articulately fastened to the one end of a link (29) , the other end of which is articulately fastened to the upper portion of the vertical arm (21) .

9. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 6-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second means (31) for raising or lowering of the row spreading blade (13) is essenti- ally of the same type as the first means (18) .

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the first (18) and the second means (31) for raising or lowering of the row spreading blade (13) compri¬ se a means (30) by which the hydraulic cylinder (24) of the pivoting wheel (19; 32) can be manually operated.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sensor means (17) is of ultrasonic type.