WO1993016238A1

WO1993016238A1 - Integral excavation equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1993016238A1
Application number: PCT/RO1993/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dan Niculescu; Rozalia Tonciu; Adrian Niculescu; Mircea Gherache; Grigore Brezan
Original assignee: Dan Niculescu; Rozalia Tonciu; Adrian Niculescu; Mircea Gherache; Grigore Brezan
Priority date: 1992-02-14
Filing date: 1993-02-11
Publication date: 1993-08-19
Also published as: AU3577093A; RO108337B

Abstract

Integral excavation equipment made up of a bucket (A) the shape of which is correlated with the functionality having active working zones and being dimensioned so that its lenght and depth should be approximately equal between them, the bucket (A) in assembly being assimilated with a cylindrical sector the opening of which may range between 80° ... 180°, the bucket (A) being provided or not to the inside with a mobile and swinging ejector plate (B) articulated on an axis supported on some sidewalls and frames belonging to the bucket (A) and on an upper plate parallel or identic to an axis for attaching the bucket to the arm of a construction machinery, the ejector plate (B) operating in the sense of the forced unloading, obturating the open zones of the bucket and gripping some materials due to the own actuating and guiding systems.

Description

Integral Excavation Equipment

Technical Field

This invention relates to an integral excavation equipment destined to the earthworking and construction machinery, with multiple-use possibilities, equipments that are active in the both operating directions, fact that determines the integral excavation feature of the equipment.

Background Art

For equipping the shevels there are known equip- ments consisting of a hydraulically operated bucket which is made up of two sections articulated on an axis which can work together forming a classical profile bucket provided with sidewalls, a bottom wall and a cutting (digging) edge equipped with teeth to assist in digging especially in hard ground; the two sections being able to work independently one of them having the aspect of small volume classical bucket not equipped with teeth on the cutting edge, and the second made up of only one segment from the bottom wall and sidewalls so that to permit gripping and manoeuvering objects and materials with different cross-sections between the side edges of the first section and the edges of the second section (U.S.Patent no. 3.854.608).

These equipments have the disadvantage that by operating them there cannot be reached increased produc¬ tivities unless the power consumption is enhanced; they also have big overall dimentions that means a high mate¬ rial consumption, difficult manoeuvering and difficult adaptation to the rapid change from one kind of works to the other, that means the change of the operating direction.

Disclosure of the Invention

The equipment according to this invention obviates the shortcomings of the known solutions in that with a

./. view of increasing the excavating performance, and, respectively, of reducing the specific power consumption, by simplified equipment construction and improved adapta¬ bility of said equipment to various kinds of works, a construction solution was adopted for the main element of the equipment which consists of a bucket whose maximum loading capacity is correlated with the digging, loading and transports strengths and with the load characteris¬ tics of the equipment depending on the radius of action; the bucket having to this end a variable useful volume and being able to perform various operations without the necessity of replacing the original equipment. The equipment according to the present invention may perform operations such as digging, loading, forced unloading, pushing, gripping, holding, the activity thereof being able to be performed in both directions in the working plane of the equipment.

This equipment consists of more subassemblies; the bucket with the securing elements and the actuators. The major subassembly of the equipment is represented by a bucket the shape of which is dimensioned so that its length and depth should be approximately equal between them, the bucket being made up of the upper plate, sidewalls with the surfaces similar to sectors of the circle and connected between them by a bottom wall equipped at the ends with simple or toothed cutting blades, fact that allows the bucket to operate both ways, to the inside of the bucket there existing a mo¬ bile and swinging element having the shape of an ejector plate articulated on axis supported on the bucket side- walls or on the upper plate of the bucket,said axis being parallel to or common with the axis for attaching the bucket on the arm, the ejector plate being formed of a rigid articulated frame with the profile adapted to various uses, and a central wall rticulated on the rigid frame the said wall consisting of one more plates articulated between them like caterpillar chain which allows to increase the useful volume or to unload the

•/.

SUBSTIT the bucket with enhanced efficiency.

The equipment according to the present invention has the following advantages:

- it allows to increase the excavating performance having as effects the enhanced productivity and reduced specific consumption;

- it improves the ratio of the equipment weight to the useful load;

- it may perform an increased number of operations with the same equipment without the necessity of repla¬ cing the working tool;

- it can easily and rapidly be adapted to the existing equipments;

- it has a simple construction and a reduced cost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following, three embodiments of the invention are given with reference to figs 1 through 4 which represent: fig.l overall view of an equipment according to an embodiment of the invention; fig.2 vertical section through the middle region of an equipment according to the second embodiment of the invention: fig.3 vertical plane view with partial section view of an equipment according to the third embodiment of the invention, with an indication of an intermediary working position; fig.4 overall view of a rigid member of an equipment fig.3.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The integral excavation equipment according to the first embodiment of the invention has more subassem¬ blies consisting of a bucket A equipped with an ejector plate B and an installation C for actuating said ejector plate.

The major subassembly of the equipment is a bucket A the shape of which is so dimensioned that its length and depth should be approximately equal between them, the whole assembly being assimilated with regard to the shape with a cylindrical sector having an opening ranging between 80° - 180°.

The bucket A consists of an upper plate 1 on which the securing elements 2 are located by means of which the equipment attachement to the arm and the bucket operation are performed and some supports 3 and 4 for fixing some components of the actuating system.

The upper plate 1 is joined tightly with sidewalls provided with the frames 6 having together a shape simi¬ lar to some sectors of the circle and having some cutting edges a_ and b_ profiled depending on their destination. In the frames 6 of sidewalls 5 there are practised the holes c_ for securing the components of the ejector plate B actuating system.

The sidewalls 5 together with the frames 6 are rigidly attached to a bottom wall 7 provided with cutting plates 8 at both ends on which the teeth 9 may be attached .

Inside the bucket A articulated on an axis 10 supported on the frames 6 there is provided an ejector plate B having the role to close the bucket irrespective of the moving direction, by obturating the space between upper plate 1 and the bottom wall 7, and to assure the forced unloading of the bucket and to allow gripping between the bucket and the side edges a_ of frames b of some objects with various cross-sections that are to be manoeuvred.

The ejector plate B consists of a frame having the sidewalls 11 connected to the upper side by a member 12 which presents some axes 13 for the connection with the actuating system and to the lower side by a member 14 equipped with teeth 15 at the ends.

Inside the rigid frame thus formed there are the axes 16 and 17 with the plates 18 attached between them articulated by means of axes 19.

The plates 18 may be replaced by a single plate

•/.

SUB this option being dictated by the nature of the excavated material and the volume thereof as well.

When an increased volume and an efficient total unloading are desired the ejector plate with articulated plates is employed.

This articulated plates 18 are mobile to one another and mobile to the rigid frame they being able to have various conformations depending on the position of said frame, or, on the pressures put upon them by the excavated material.

The limit position of the chain of articulated plates is determined by the outside profile of the side¬ walls 11 of the frame, provided to this end with the trimmings d_. The actuation of the ejector plate B is assured by a system consisting of the hydraulic cylinders 20 and levers 21 and 22 which allow the ejector plate to move in both directions inside and outside the bucket under an angle exceeding 150°, the levers being linked so that to form balancing parallelogram mechanisms with simul¬ taneous actuation.

The equipment according to the present invention operates in the following manner the position of the ejector plate is determined depending on the working direction and the volume of the material to be excavated.

Digging, loading the bucket and the transport of the material are performed followed then by unloading the material that can be done freely both through the digging zone and through the zone opposite to this case of direct digging by opening and moving the ejector plate away from the bucket. ^~

The forced unloading is assured by pushing the material by the ejector plate in the direction opposite to the initial loading direction for the both cases. To the complete unloading of the excavated material there are also contribute the articulated plates of the ejector plate that allow to increase the inside volume of the equipment by their mobility. In another embodiment of the invention, the integral excavation equipment show the same component parts having the feature that for reducing the deadweight and for obtaining a better distribution of the loadings to which the equipment is subjected to, the ejector plate B is articulated on an axis 23 which assures the bucket A attachment to the arm.

The bucket movement is determined by an actuating system with application on a bolt 24 located in the central part of the upper plate 1 on which there are the supports 25 which take over the functions of supports 2, 3 and 4 from the preceeding embodiment of the invention.

The profile of the ejector plate sidewalls is selected so that to enable gripping and manoeuvering the objects 26 with a round or different cross-section, a high efficiency being assured.

Gripping of such objects is assured by the curvature e_ practised on the sides of the sidewalls 11, curvature that allows to obtain contact areas between the ejector plate and the object.

The integral excavation equipment according to the third embodiment of the invention has a construction similar to the other embodiments except that it has not an independent actuating system of the ejector plate B but a guiding system thereof, the operation of which is determined by the various positions of the ejector plate and the bucket about the arm.

This guiding system is based on the possibility of moving the ejector plate due to the deadweight or due to the pressure of the material inside the bucket A, the limit positions being assured by a limit stop 27 with a wedge 28 and by the upper plate.

To achieve the forced unloading of the material, the ejector plate B attached to the machinery arm 29 is locked in a given position by some chains 30 fastened to one end of arm 29 by a bolt 31 which penetrates it and is attached to an additional support 32, the other end being secured by bolts 33 to the ejector plate B.

SU When loading, in case of reverse digging, irrespective of the initial position of the ejector plate B inside the bucket A, under the pressure of the excavated material the ejector plate will be pushed toward the upper plate 1 remaining in this position also during the transport.

When unloading, as the bucket A is lifted the ejector plate remains locked in a certain position due to the chains for the connection to the arm, thus assuring the forced unloading.

For direct digging the chains may be replaced by the rigid members 34 which lock the ejector plate in a given point about the arm irrespective of the position of bucket as compared to the ejector plate, in this situation the limit stops 27 being dettached.

This constructive version permits only the excava¬ tion in the direct sense and gripping some objects and materials in view of manoeuvering them.

Industrial Applicability

During the operation, the integral excavation equipment permits the performance of some excavation works by the rotation of bucket A and complete filling thereof by cutting entirely the excavated material without the necessity of moving the arm.

The equipment according to the invention may have a variable volume due to the ejector plate B and may be attached to various excavating machines without being necessary to change constructively these machines. This equipment may be adapted both on excavating machines as well as on loaders (front loaders) in various kinds of ground including in quarries.

Claims

1. Integral excavation equipment consisting of the bucket, fastening elements and actuating system characterized in that in view of increasing the excavation performance and respectively of reducing the specific power consumption, in view of reducing the equipment weight and improving its adaptability to various types of works, it is made up of an integral- type bucket A the shape of which is correlated with the functionality having two active working zones and being dimensioned so that its length and depth should be approximately equal between them, the bucket in assembly being assimilated to a cylindrical sector the opening of which may range from 80° to 180° provided or not to the inside with a mobile swinging ejector plate B articulated to the axis (10) supported on sidewalls (5) by frames (6) of bucket (A) and on an upper plate (1) parallel or identic to an axis (23) for attaching the bucket (A) to the arm of a machinery, the ejector plate (B) operating in the direction of the forced unloading, of obturating the open zones of the bucket or to gripping some materials due to an own actuating system (C) or to a guiding system (D).

2. Integral excavation equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that a bucket A consists of the upper plate (1) on which there are located the elements for securing the equipment to the machinery arm and the elements for actuating the bucket, joined tightly with the sidewalls (5) provided with frames (6) with the shape similar to sectors of the circle, with cutting edges a_ and b profiled depending on the destinations, the side¬ walls being rigidly connected to a bottom wall (7) provided with cutting plates (8) at both ends on which teeth (9) may be attached.

3. Integral excavation equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that inside a bucket (A) articulated to an axis (10) supported on frames (6) of

SUBSTITUTE sidewalls (5) there is provided an ejector plate (B) made up of a frame consisting of sidewalls (ll)stiffned to the upper side by a member (12) and to the lower side by a member (14) provided with teeth (15), inside this frame being attached a panel made up of a single or multiple plates (18) articulated between them like a caterpillar chain, the sidewalls being profiled repre¬ senting a curvature e_ which allows the efficient gripping of objects with various cross-sections and showing the trimmings c to limit the movement of the mobile plates (18).

4. Integral excavation equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that view of constructive simplification the bucket (A) and ejector plate (B) are articulated on an axis (23), common, attached to the upper plate (1), frames (6) of walls (5) and arm (29) of a construction machinery.

5. Integral excavation equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that view of reducing deadweight and of simplifying the construction, the ^• actuating system (C) of the ejector plate (B) is replaced by a guiding system (D) made up of two flexible elements (30)which allows the free swinging of ejector plate (B) inside the bucket (A) between the upper plate (1) and a limit stop (27) or locking the ejector plate to a certain position, unloading the bucket being performed forcedly by its rotation; the flexible elements may be replaced by two rigid members (34).

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 18 June 1993 (18.06.93.); original claim 4 cancelled; original claims 1-3 and 5 amended; new claim 4 added; (3 pages)]

1. Integral excavation equipment consisting of the bucket, fastening elements and an actuating system of balacing crank quadrilateral type, characterized in that in view of increasing the excavation performance and respectively reducing the equipment weight and improving its adaptability to various types of works, it is made up of an integral type bucket (A), with a variable useful volume, the shape of which is correlated with the functio¬ nality having two active opposite working zones, due to some openings practicable in its body and being dimensioned so that its depths should be approximately equal between them, but distance among the cutting plates (8) located at the ends to be until the double of depth, allowing their inscription on a spatial arch, the opening of which can exceed 120° too; by actuating of the quadrilateral mechanism doing a complete alternative cir¬ cular movement, face to the outside part, respective the internal one of a balancing arm (29) of which is articu¬ lated by means of the fastening elements (2) provided or not to the inside with a mobile swinging ejector plate (B) articulated to the axis (10) supported on sidewalls (5) by frames (6) of bucket (A) and on an upper plate (1) parallel or identic to an axis (23) for attaching the bucket (A) to the arm of a mashinery, the ejector plate (B) being made up of a frame consisting of sidewalls (11) provided with teeth (15) inside this frame being attached one or multiple plates (18) articulated between them like a caterpillar chain, in assembly the ejector plate operating in direc¬ tion of the forced unloading, of obturating the open zones of the bucket, of regulation through the position in which can be stopped at one given moment of the quantity of the excavated material and gripping some materials, due to an own independent actuating system (C), which can provide an alternative circular movement exceeding 180° due to an osci¬ llating quadrilateral double mechanism; also the operation of the ejector plate may be provided or not with a mechani¬ cal guiding system (D) coupled to the arm.

2. Integral excavation equipment according the the claim 1 characterized in that a bucket (A) of integral type with variable useful volume consists of the upper plate (1), on which there are located securing elements on the arm and the supporting and actuating elements of the bucket or some components of the equipment, the upper plate being joined tightly with sidewalls (5), provided with the frames (6) which are rigidly attached to a bottom wall (7) provi¬ ded with opposite cutting plates (8) at both ends which forms on the whole a combined structure ^■ the distance between cutting plates located at the ends of the bucket may be the double of its depth, the bucket shape being correlated with the functionality, so that to achieve a maximum ratio between the volume of bucket and the surface of the cross-sections, respectively the surface of the active zones of cutting and digging.

3. Integral excavation equipment according to the claim 1 characterized in that an ejector plate (B) located inside the bucket of integral type of which is articulated by means of an axis (10) supported by frames (6) of the sidewalls (5) is made up of a frame consisting of sidewalls (11) stiffned to the upper side by a member (12) and to the lower side by a member (14) provided with teeth (15) inside this frame being attached a mobile oscillating panel being or not constituted of one or multiplates (18) articulated among them, the sidewalls being profilated according to the functional necessities, showing or not trimmings d_ to limit the movement of the mobile plates.

4. Integral excavation equipment according to the claim 1, characterized in that view of achieving the multi- functionality and regulating the loading volume of the bucket depending on the load capacity and/or the radius of action of the equipment, an actuating system (C), component part of the equipment, with actuating basis on the bucket (A). This make up together with the ejector plate (B) a

./. double quadrilateral of balancing crank type which comprises four levers (21; 22), allowing the ejector plate an alter¬ native circular movement with an angle which can exceed 180° too. 5. Integral excavation equipment according to the invantion characterized in that view of reducing its own weight and constructive simplifying, the actuating system (C) (C) of the ejector plate (B) is replaced by a guiding system (D) made up of two flexible elements (30) located at one end on an arm (29), which allows the free oscil¬ lating of the ejector plate (B) inside the bucket (A) between the upper plate (1) and one or two limit stops (27) or its blockage to a certain position, the unloading of the bucket being forcedly performed by its reverse rotation yto the loading sense, the flexible elements (30) may be replaced by two elements (34) which can provide more blockage positions due to a multiple gripping system which can be represented by a set of orifices practised in their body.

STATEMENTUNDERARTICLE 19

An integral excavation equipment consisting of an actuat .ing system of balancing crank quadrilateral type "..."a bucket (A) with variable volume" ... "but distance among the cutting plates (8) to be until the double of depth"... "by actuating of the quadrilateral mechanism doing a complete alternative movement" ... "the bucket having a combined structure"; this ensemble having as a new techni¬ cal effect the possibility to achieve the excavation in both direct and reverse sense without changing the place of the osculant arm and strata, the strips of material inside the bucket by positioning the bucket articulated axis on the incidence zone with the soil, by actuating the bucket to achieve the digging, cutting and direct disclo¬ cation for a volume of material corresponding to the bucket openings; this excavation operation can be executed per¬ manently, cyclical, but functional requirement being that beforehand to start the excavation when the bucket is taken back to the arm, the outside active zone not to exceed in principle the longitudinal axis of the outfit arm. "An independent actuating system (C) of the ejector plate (B) is a double -quadrilateral of balancing crank type, with actuating basis of the bucket" ...efect: "it allows the eject plate a maximum promotion of an alternative circular movement exceeding 180°".

"A guiding system (D) may consist of rigid elements (34) which due to a multiple gripping system",..." represen" ted by a set of orifices practised in their bodies" ,has as a technical effect "the increase of number of positions" and the blockage angle of the ejector plate face to the out¬ fit arm. The claims situation.

The claim 1 characteristic in the initial applicatio amended so that there were excluded from it the general claims regarding the shape of the bucket (A) and the plate (B) being replaced by claims of constructive principle, structure, specific shape and specific actuating and movement; as well as on the actuating system (C) and the guiding one (D) ;

The claim 2 amended by replacing the elements characterizing the general shape of bucket (A) with specifi constructive priciple elements of shape and functional respectively: "achieving of a maximum ratio between the bucket volume and the surface of the cross-section";

The claim 3 amended by exclusion, being considered irrelevant, the claim concerning the ejector plate (B);

The claim 4 cancelled, being replaced by another claim regarding the structure and the operation of an actuating system (C) , irrespective of the relative poaition bucket-arm;

The claim 5 amended by completing with defining elements regarding the constructive - functional principle of the guiding elements.