WO2014202285A1

WO2014202285A1 - Housing for grapple

Info

Publication number: WO2014202285A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/059743
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ard ZOONTJENS; Patrick Grant
Original assignee: Caterpillar Work Tools B.V.
Priority date: 2013-06-21
Filing date: 2014-05-13
Publication date: 2014-12-24
Also published as: GB2515336A; GB201311059D0

Abstract

A mounting member (202, 502) for assembling a housing (200, 500) of a grapple (104) is provided. The mounting member (202, 502) includes a first aperture (302, 602) configured to pivotally support a tine (116) and a second aperture (304, 604) configured to pivotally support a hydraulic cylinder (118). The mounting member (202, 502) further includes a first joining edge (306, 606) and a second joining edge (306, 606) configured to attach the mounting member (202, 502) to an adjacent mounting member (202, 502). The mounting member (202, 502) also includes a top surface (309, 609) extending between the first joining edge (306, 606) and the second joining edge (308, 608). The top surface (309, 609) is configured to attach the mounting member (202, 502) to a mounting ring (204, 504).

Description

HOUSING FOR GRAPPLE

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a housing of an orange peel type grapple of a machine, and particularly to a method of modularly assembling the housing of the grapple.

Background

[0002] Implements of machines having one or more actuatable tool portions, such as grapples, crushers, pulverizers and shears are well known and commonly carried on a stick member of a machine. The actuatable tool portion may form an elongated, arm-like structure that is pivotally connected to a supporting tool portion.

[0003] Generally, there is large number of individual components required for assembling of such implements. This is highly complex and costly. Further, manufacturing of this huge number of individual components also adds to the complexity and cost associated with such implements.

Summary

[0004] In one aspect, a mounting member for assembling a housing of a grapple is provided. The mounting member includes a first aperture configured to pivotally support a tine and a second aperture configured to pivotally support a hydraulic cylinder. The mounting member further includes a first joining edge and a second joining edge configured to attach the mounting member to an adjacent mounting member. The mounting member includes a top surface extending between the first joining edge and the second joining edge. The top surface is configured to attach the mounting member to a mounting ring.

[0005] In another aspect, a housing for a grapple is provided. The housing includes a mounting ring and a number of mounting members assembled to form the housing. Each of the mounting members includes a first aperture configured to receive a tine and a second aperture configured to receive a hydraulic cylinder. The mounting member further includes a first joining edge and a second joining edge. The mounting member is attached to the adjacent mounting member at the first joining edge and the second joining edge. Furthermore, the mounting member includes a top surface extending between the first joining edge and the second joining edge. The top surface is attached to the mounting ring.

[0006] In a yet another aspect, a method for modularly assembling a housing of a grapple. The method includes providing a number of interchangeable mounting members having a first aperture and, a second aperture. Further, the method includes attaching the mounting member to the adjacent mounting member at a first joining edge and a second joining edge. Furthermore, the method includes attaching a mounting ring to the mounting members at a top surface extending between the first joining edge and the second joining edge.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary machine according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a housing of an implement, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a mounting member of the housing of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the mounting member of FIG. 3;

[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a housing of the implement, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a mounting member of the housing of FIG. 5; and

[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method for assembling the housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

[0014] The present disclosure relates to a housing for an orange peel type grapple. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary machine 100, such as a hydraulic excavator. In other embodiments, the machine 100 may be a backhoe loader, a digger, a knuckle boom loader, a harvester or a forest machine. The machine 100 may include an implement system 102 configured to move or position an implement 104. The implement 104 may be attached to a stick member 106 of the implement system 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the machine 100 may further include a frame 108, a drive system 110 for propelling the machine 100, a power source 112 that provides power to the implement 104 and the drive system 110, and an operator station 114 to control the implement 104 and the drive systems 110. The operator station 114 includes one or more operator input devices configured to receive and/or transmit various inputs indicative of an operator desired movement of the implement 104 and/or the machine 100.

[0015] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the implement 104 may be embodied as an orange peel type grapple, hereinafter referred to as the grapple 104. However, it may be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art, that the machine 100 may include additional implements mounted on the machine 100 for various other purposes. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the grapple 104 may include a number of tines, such as tines 116 pivotally attached to a housing 200 of the grapple 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the grapple 104 may be a multiple tine grapple, such as a four tine grapple or a five tine grapple. As will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art, that the grapple 104 may be operated by pivoting the tines 116 using respective hydraulic cylinders 118. The hydraulic cylinders 118 may also be pivotally attached to the housing 200 and the tines 116 to facilitate the pivotal movement of the tines 116 for operating the grapple 104.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing 200 is a modular structure including a number of mounting members 202. Each of the mounting members 202 is attached to the adjacent mounting member 202 to modularly assemble the housing 200. Further, the housing 200 includes a mounting ring 204 attached to a rotator head 120 and the mounting members 202. The mounting ring 204 and the rotary head 120 may be configured to rotate the grapple 104. The rotary head 120 is further connected to the stick member 106 via a cross head 122. The housing 200 is described further in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the housing 200 of the grapple 104 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting members 202 may be identical and/or interchangeable with each other. In an exemplary embodiment, there may be four mounting members 202 for a four tine grapple 104. In another exemplary embodiment, there may be five mounting members 202 for a five tine grapple 104. In an embodiment, the mounting ring 204 may be further configured to be attached to the mounting members 202 to modularly assemble the housing 200. The mounting members 202 are further described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the mounting member 202 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the mounting member 202. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting member 202 may include a first aperture 302 and a second aperture 304. The first aperture 302 may be configured to pivotally support the tine 116 of the grapple 104. The second aperture 304 may be configured to pivotally support the respective hydraulic cylinder 118. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the tines 116 may be fastened within the first aperture 302 of the mounting member 202 to facilitate pivoting of the tines 116 about the first aperture 302. Furthermore, the hydraulic cylinder 118 may be fastened within the second aperture 304 of the mounting member 202 to facilitate the pivoting of the hydraulic cylinder 118 about the second aperture 304. In an exemplary embodiment, the tines 116 and the hydraulic cylinder 118 may be fastened to the first aperture 302 and the second aperture 304 respectively by using pivot pins.

[0019] Furthermore, the mounting member 202 may include a first joining edge 306 and a second joining edge 308. The first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308 may be configured to attach the mounting member 202 to corresponding joining edges of the adjacent mounting members 202 of the housing 200. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308 are disposed at a predetermined angle A with respect to each other (as shown in FIG. 4). In an embodiment, the predetermined angle A is substantially about 90 degrees for a four tine grapple 104. In another embodiment, the predetermined angle A is substantially about 72 degrees for a five tine grapple 104. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308 are symmetric about a plane B-B' passing through a centre of the mounting member 202, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0020] Furthermore, the mounting member 202 may include a top portion 307. The top portion 307 may includes a top arcuate surface 309 extending between the first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the top arcuate surface 309 may be configured to be attached to the mounting ring 204. For example, the mounting members 202 may be welded to the mounting ring 204 at the top arcuate surface 309.

[0021] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the mounting member 202 may further include a first end stop 310 positioned at the top portion 307 of the mounting member 202 and a second end stop 312 positioned at a bottom portion 311 of the mounting member 202. The end stops 310 and 312 may be configured to control the pivotal movement of the tines 116 during the operation of the grapple 104. For example, the first end stop 310 may restrict the upward pivoting of the tines 116 beyond a predefined limit, during the operation. Similarly, the second end stop 312 may be configured to restrict the downward pivoting of the tines 116 beyond a predefined limit, during the operation.

[0022] In an aspect of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3, the mounting member 202 may further include a side support portion 314. The side support portion 314 may be configured to attach to the side support portion 314 of the adjacent mounting members 202 of the housing 200. The side support portion 314, when joined with the adjacent side support portion 314 of another mounting member 202, may form a side support plate configured to provide a side support to the grapple housing 200. In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom portion 311 of the mounting member 202 may include a bottom support portion 316 configured to be attached to the bottom support portion 316 of the adjacent mounting member 202 of the housing 200 of the grapple 104. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom support portion 316, when joined with the adjacent bottom support portion 316 of another mounting member 202, may form a bottom support plate configured to provide a bottom support to the grapple housing 200. [0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a housing 500 for the grapple 104 according to an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the housing 500 may include multiple mounting members 502, identical to and/or interchangeable with respect to each other. Further, the housing 500 may include a mounting ring 504 configured to be attached to the mounting members 502 to modularly assemble the housing 500. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the housing 500 may include a number of side support plates 506 configured to be disposed between the adjacent mounting members 502. Further, the housing 500 may include a bottom support plate 508 configured to support the mounting members 502 in the housing 500.

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates one of the mounting members 502 according to the alternate embodiment of the present disclosure. The mounting member 502 may include a first aperture 602 configured to pivotally support the tine 116. The mounting member 502 may further include a second aperture 604 configured to pivotally support the respective hydraulic cylinder 118. Furthermore, the mounting member 502 may include a first joining edge 606 and a second joining edge 608. The first joining edge 606 and the second joining edge 608 may be configured to attach the mounting member 502 to corresponding joining edges of the adjacent mounting members 502 of the housing 500. Furthermore, the mounting member 502 may include a top portion 607. The top portion 607 may include a top arcuate surface 609 extending between the first joining edge 606 and the second joining edge 608. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the mounting ring 504 may be attached to the top arcuate surface 609 of the mounting members 502, such as a by welding.

[0025] In an aspect of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 6, an optional high strength mounting boss 610 may be welded at the first aperture 602 casted with the mounting member 502 of the housing 500. The high strength mounting boss 610 may be provided to further strengthen the first aperture 602 and facilitate the pivotal support for the tines 116.

Industrial Applicability

[0026] The industrial applicability of the housings 200 and 500 for the grapple 104 of the machine 100 described herein will be readily appreciated from the foregoing discussion. The identical and/or interchangeable mounting members 202 and 502 are casted and machined. Once, the mounting members 202, 502 are casted and machined, they may be welded to the adjacent mounting members 202, 502 to modularly assemble the housings 200, 500 respectively.

[0027] The identical and/or interchangeable mounting members 202 and 502 reduce the complexity and the cost associated with assembling the housings 200, 500. In an aspect of the present disclosure, casting of the apertures 302, 304, the side support portion 314, the bottom support portion 316, the joining edges 306, 308 and the end stops 310 and 312 together in each of the mounting member 202 reduces the number of individual components required to be manufactured and for modularly assemble the housing 200.

[0028] The modular assembling of the housing 200, 500 may only require assembling the identical mounting members 202, 502 by welding, and joining the mounting ring 204, 504 to the assembled multiple identical mounting members 202, 504.

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method 700 for modularly assembling the housing 200 of the grapple 104 of the machine 100. Initially, at step 702, a number of identical and/or interchangeable mounting members 202 may be provided. In an aspect of the present disclosure, each of the mounting members 202 may include the first aperture 302, and the second aperture 304. The first aperture 302 pivotally supports a tine 116 and the second aperture 304 pivotally supports the respective hydraulic cylinder 118. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a high strength mounting boss 610 may be welded to the first aperture 302.

[0030] Further, at step 704, the identical and/or interchangeable mounting members 202 may be attached to the adjacent mounting members 202 of the housing 200 at the first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308 provided on the mounting member 202. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the mounting members 202 may be attached to the adjacent mounting members 202 by welding at the first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308. [0031] Further, the side support portion 314 of each of the mounting member 202 may be attached with the side support portion 314 of the adjacent mounting member 202. Furthermore, the bottom support portion 316 of each of the mounting member 202 may be attached to the bottom support portion 316 of the adjacent mounting member 202.

[0032] Further, at step 706, the mounting ring 204 may be attached to the mounting member 202 at the top arcuate surface 309. The top arcuate surface 309 extends between the first joining edge 306 and the second joining edge 308. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the mounting ring 204 may be welded to the mounting member 202 at the top arcuate surface 309.

[0033] While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting member (202, 502) for assembling a housing (200, 500) of a grapple (104), the mounting member (202, 502) comprising:

a first aperture (302, 602) configured to pivotally support a tine (116); a second aperture (304, 604) configured to pivotally support a hydraulic cylinder (118);

a first joining edge (306, 606) and a second joining edge (308, 608) configured to attach the mounting member (202, 502) to an adjacent mounting member (202, 502); and

a top surface (309, 609) extending between the first joining edge (306, 606) and the second joining edge (308, 608), the top surface (309, 609) configured to attach the mounting member (202, 502) to a mounting ring (204, 504).

2. The mounting member (202, 502) of claim 1, wherein the first joining edge (306, 606) and the second joining edge (308, 608) are disposed at a predetermined angle (A) with respect to each other.

3. The mounting member (202, 502) of claim 2, wherein the predetermined angle (A) is substantially about 90 degrees.

4. The mounting member (202, 502) of claim 2, wherein the predetermined angle (A) is substantially about 72 degrees.

5. The mounting member (202, 502) of claim 1 further includes a bottom support portion (316) configured to attach to a bottom support portion (316) of the adjacent mounting member (202, 502).

6. The mounting member (202, 502) of claim 1 further includes a side support portion (314) configured to attach to a side support portion (314) of the adjacent mounting member (202, 502).

7. The mounting member (202, 502) of claim 1 further comprising a mounting boss (610) configured to be welded to the first aperture (302, 602).

8. A housing (200, 500) for a grapple (104), the housing (200, 500) comprising: a mounting ring (204, 504); and

a plurality of mounting members (202, 502) assembled to form the housing (200, 500), each of the plurality of mounting members (202, 502) including:

a first aperture (302, 602) configured to receive a tine (116);

a second aperture (304, 604) configured to receive a hydraulic cylinder (118);

a first joining edge (306, 606) and a second joining edge (308,

608) , the mounting member (202, 502) is attached to the adjacent mounting members (202, 502) at the first joining edge (306, 606) and the second joining edge (308, 608); and

a top surface (309, 609) extending between the first joining edge (306, 606) and the second joining edge (308, 608), the top surface (309,

609) is attached to the mounting ring (204, 504).

9. The housing (200, 500) of claim 8, wherein the first joining edge (306, 606) and the second joining edge (306, 606) are disposed at a pre-determined angle (A) with respect to each other.

10. The housing (200, 500) of claim 9, wherein the predetermined angle (A) is substantially about 90 degrees.