WO2005080694A1

WO2005080694A1 - Arrangement for steering crosswise movement of working apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2005080694A1
Application number: PCT/FI2005/000105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reijo Niilo Saukko
Original assignee: Kone-Lappi Oy
Priority date: 2004-02-24
Filing date: 2005-02-18
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Also published as: FI6248U1; FIU20040084U0

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustment for steering of a working apparatus (2), in which a working apparatus has been adjusted to a boom (1) in a working machine, advantageously in an excavator, such that there is a joint of two degrees of freedom between the boom and the working apparatus, in which case the working apparatus has been adjusted to turn in crosswise direction in regard to the sectional plane formed in the boom steered by an actuator. In the adjustment in accordance with the invention, at least four actuators (5) have been arranged to steer the crosswise movement of the working apparatus (2).

Description

Arrangement for steering crosswise movement of working apparatus .

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to an adjustment for steering of a working apparatus in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

Today there are devices for inclining of various working apparatus such as, for example, a bucket of an excavator in the market. These devices are usually steered by one or two actuators, which advantageously are hydraulic cylinders. This known technique is related, however, with remarkable disadvantages. Such being the case it may be noted that remarkable momentary extreme pressure is directed to the hydraulic cylinders of a device while operating, which pressure sets great requirements for the choice of a hydraulic cylinder. As a result, hydraulic cylinders are usually large by dimension since they need to resist these extreme pressures.

On the other hand, a large hydraulic cylinder by construction and dimension requires strong connecting constructions, such as tie-down eyes. At the same time, this kind of hydraulic cylinder is big by outer dimension as it makes the construction of the inclining construction a strongly projecting projection with connections and shielding. Projecting parts of a hydraulic cylinder and parts included in it hinder effectively work in narrow places, and hydraulic cylinders and their connecting construction, on the one hand, obstruct the view to the work target and, on the other hand, hit disadvantageously to the surrounding constructions.

A device with the described cylinder is also heavy, in which case it weakens the efficiency of the working apparatus and, thus, slows the performance of the work.

Short description of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate disadvantages of the known technique and to provide an entirely new constructional solution to the adjustment for steering of a working apparatus.

This purpose is achieved by the fact that the adjustment for steering of a working apparatus has characteristics defined in claims in accordance with this invention. More exactly said, mainly characteristic to this adjustment for steering of a working apparatus in accordance with the invention is what has been presented in the characteristics of claim 1. By making the device in accordance with the present adjustment for steering of a working apparatus, an inclining device of a bucket, for example, provided with at least four actuators i.e. inclining cylinders, the construction in accordance with the adjustment may be realized remarkably smaller and compact by dimensions. This is possible, as actuators get smaller by cross-section while their number increases.

Advantageous applications of the invention are the object of the dependent claims.

Remarkable advantages are gained by the invention. Therefore, facilitating of several actuators in the adjustment for steering of a working apparatus leads to the fact that tie-down eyes, fixing bearings or similar parts of actuators may be produced lighter than earlier as extreme pressure created by smaller actuators to surrounding constructions are naturally smaller. The consumption of producing material may, therefore, be decreased.

While each actuator out of at least four actuators in accordance with the invention may, due to its small size, be placed between the vertical tie-down eyes of the inclining joint in the construction of the device in accordance with the adjustment, it helps the optimal planning of the construction and the control of stress forces in the construction. As individual loads caused by the actuators are smaller, even the material thicknesses of the constructions of the inclining device may be decreased from earlier. In other words, lightening of the device may be achieved by the adjustment, which in its turn improves the efficiency of the working apparatus connected with it.

While employing at least four actuators as presented, the working stroke length hast to be kept short, in which case the actuators may even be provided inside the construction. In this way, the size of the inclining device may be decreased by facilitating the present adjustment creating remarkable material savings and weight saving. A device smaller by outer parameters makes it also possible to have a better view to the work target in question.

Material savings and saving in weight are achieved also because when the inclining device is provided with at least four actuators, the pressure effects in the inclining device may be directed to go from the lower base plate to the actuator from several points. Therefore, the requirement of stiffness of the lower base plate will be less when compared to the earlier and savings may be obtained in material thickness and material weight of the lower base plate. This same phenomenon may also be facilitated in the upper frame in the inclining device. As the forces transmitted by the bucket to the inclining device may be directed, by facilitating several actuators to the receiving booms of the inclining device through many points, material savings may also be obtained in the upper frame.

A square rectangular plate, usually with size, 400 mm x 700 mm, has been standardized as the lower base plate of devices on the market. As there are at least four actuators in the inclining device in accordance with the invention, they may essentially be reached to every corner of the lower base plate, in which case they support the construction of the inclining device remarkably better than before by carrying forces optimally, and by directing forces through the upper frame and further to the boom.

On the other hand, employing at least four actuators in the inclining device creates savings also in the pressure medium system controlling the device. Therefore, for example, pressure medium connectors, over pressure valves and counter valves may be dimensioned smaller than earlier for each actuator as the actuator itself is smaller by dimension.

Smaller pressure loads of smaller actuators directed to the surrounding constructions naturally prevent breakage of inclining device constructions in advance.

With a small device by outer dimension, it is also easier than earlier to avoid hitting the working apparatus to surrounding constructions, tree stand or embankments. Further, a smaller device by outer dimension is easier to protect against surrounding strokes, with which it is possible to improve its long-term durability.

As a benefit, it may also be mentioned that since there are several actuators in the inclining device, the device may operate even though a part or even three actuators in the device would break down. This makes it possible that the work or work phase on hand may be finished without a stoppage disturbing other work. Maintenance work may be started after the most important work has been carried out and, in this way, effects of the maintenance stoppage may be minimized.

A short description of figures

Next, an advantageous application of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which, figure 1 illustrates a working apparatus i.e. a bucket adjusted to the end of a boom, as well as the actuators steering it viewed from side and partially cut,

figure 2 illustrates a protection means adjusted around the adjustment in accordance with figure 1, and

figure 3 illustrates the adjustment in accordance with figure 1 viewed from ahead, and the working apparatus inclined by actuators.

A detailed explanation of an advantageous application

An advantageous application of the present adjustment has next been described with reference to the adjustment in accordance with the earlier mentioned figures, in which adjustment a bucket of an excavator connected to a boom is steered. In this case, the adjustment includes construction parts marked with reference numbers in the figures, which parts correspond to the reference numbers used in this explanation.

When, for example, a bucket 2 connected with a boom 1 in an excavator is desired to be inclined in some other than in sectional plane of the boom, it is known to fit a special inclining device 3 in accordance with figures between the bucket and the boom. In this way, the turning movement of otherwise one degree of freedom may be changed into two degrees of freedom, in which the bucket turns - i.e. inclines - not only in sectional plane of the boom but also perpendicularly against it as presented in figure 3.

The present application of the adjustment is, therefore, specially connected with the steering of the bucket 2 of an excavator, in which a bucket joint onto the boom 1 is equipped with another joint, inclining joint 4 on the sectional plane of the boom. The movement of the bucket in regard to this kind of joint is controlled with actuators 5, which there are four in this present application. Actuators reach from the upper frame 6 on the boom side in the inclining device 3 to the lower base plate 7 on the bucket side on it.

As in present adjustment the four actuators 5 adjusted in the inclining device 3 are facilitated, it has been possible to choose them to be remarkably smaller by size than earlier, thus creating, however, needed working pressure. Therefore, they may be placed, due to this small size, inside the construction forming the frame of the inclining device, for example between such vertical tie-down eyes 8, with which the inclining joint has been connected to the upper frame. This way projecting from the inclining device and disturbing parts may be avoided and, at the same time, tie- down eyes of the actuators and fixing bearings in those may be selected to be smaller than earlier.

The upper ends of the actuators connected to the upper frame may also be protected against strokes from outside with a construction 9 forming the fixing part of the boom projecting from the upper frame plate.

This compact construction makes it possible to protect the inclining device effectively from outer effect, strokes and dirt. Therefore, in figure 2, a protecting means 10 protecting the inclining device has been presented as cross-section, which protecting means has been adjusted to surround actuators 5 and the upper frame 6. It is formed by a protective rubber of at least partly accordion construction as in the case in accordance with the figure. Naturally, the protecting means may also be realized facilitating a lamel sheet construction or some other in itself known solution.

As the actuators 5 reach from the upper frame 6 towards the lower base plate 7, they are most suitably directed to every corner of the lower base plate of essentially square shape. In this way, actuators are fixed to receive forces optimally, and to direct forces through the upper frame of the inclining device as effectively as possibly further to the boom 1.

It must be understood that the earlier presented explanation and accompanying figures are only meant to illustrate the present solution. The solution is not, therefore, limited to the earlier presented or to the application defined in the claims, but, to a person skilled in the art its many various variations and modifications will be obvious, which are possible within the idea formed in the accompanying claims. The number of actuators is at least four, in other words, there may be, for example, five, six, or some other number, in the adjustment.

The presented adjustment is applicable to be facilitated for steering of most diverse working apparatus 2. With the adjustment, a small, compact and well-protected inclining device 3 is achieved, which connects the boom to the working apparatus with a joint piece of two degrees of freedom. Due to the adjustment, turning of the working apparatus is easier than earlier, and better work efficiency by means of it will be achieved.

Claims

1. Adjustment for steering of a working apparatus (2), in which a working apparatus has been adjusted to a boom (1) in a working machine, advantageously in an excavator, such that there is a joint of two degrees of freedom between the boom and the working apparatus, in which case the working apparatus has been adjusted to turn in crosswise direction in regard to the sectional plane formed in the boom steered by an actuator, ch arac teri z e d in that at least four actuators (5) have been organized to steer the crosswise movement of the working apparatus.

2. Adjustment in accordance with claim 1, c h arac t eri z e d in that each actuator (5) has been provided inside a construction, advantageously between vertical tie-down eyes (8).

3. Adjustment in accordance with claim 1 or 2, c h ara c t eri z e d in that each actuator (5) has been adjusted from its first end to the upper frame (6) on the end of the boom (1) and from the other end on the working apparatus (2) end to the lower base plate (7) such that actuators have been adjusted from one end to essentially square lower base plate (7) near each corner of it.

4. Adjustment in accordance with any of claims 1-3, c har a c t eri z e d in that the protecting means (10) reaching from the lower base plate (7) has been adjusted to surround the actuators (5) and the upper frame (6).